This Week in South Sudan – Week 46

Monday 13 November

• The President of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, arrived in Kampala for a two-day state visit to met with his Ugandan counter part, President Yoweri Museveni to discuss, amongst other things, the situation in South Sudan.

Tuesday 14 November

• Following diplomatic pressure from the US, the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) has promised “free, unimpeded and unhindered movement” for aid convoys.
• A Supreme Court judge resigned, saying a lack of independence from the executive had turned the judiciary into a “mockery” and complaining of poor working conditions.

Thursday 16 November

• The UN Security Council extended the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei’s (UNISFA) mandate in the contested area of Abyei until 15 May 2018.

Friday 17 November

• US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, continues to put pressure on GoSS and criticize Salva Kiir’s role in the on-going conflict, saying the US has to “take a side” in the conflict.

Saturday 18 November

• The New York Times, The Look: “What War Can’t Destroy”

Sunday 19 November

• Former SPLA chief of staff, General Paul Malong, arrived in Nairobi, Kenya shortly after he was officially released from his house arrest in Juba by President Salva Kiir. Malong is still not permitted to return to his home village in Aweil.
• According to the UN the intense fighting and unrest in Kajo Keji county, Central Equatoria State in October has forced more than 17,300 displaced people to flee.

Monday 20 November

• The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has arrested a former South Sudanese rebel commander, Colonel John Tata, accusing him of recruiting Ugandan youth.
• According to a statement by Festus Mogae, the head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), GoSS has approved a constitutional amendment bill. The move is in line with the August 2015 peace agreement, and it is expected that Parliament will endorse the bill in December.