This Week in South Sudan – Week 45

Tuesday 7 November

• Sudanese presidential assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid met with the British and Norwegian special envoy to discuss the regional and international efforts to end South Sudan’s civil war.
• SPLA officer from Aweil, Col. Chan Garang Lual, has reportedly defected to join the SPLA (IO) together with an unconfirmed number of other SPLA officers and soldiers.

Wednesday 8 November

• Reported clashes between the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirillo Swaka, and SPLA forces in Mvolo County, Western Equatoria.
• Reuters, in-depth article on the on-going food crisis: “Hungry South Sudanese refugees risk death in return home for food”

Thursday 9 November

• South Sudan’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) has granted foreign workers one month, effective 4 November, to obtain work permits or risk contract termination.

Friday 10 November

• President Kiir issued a decree approving a 90-day extension of the state of emergency in parts of Bahr al Ghazal region, including the so-called Gogrial, Tonj, Wau and Aweil East states.
• The Washington Post: “The children’s war”

Saturday 11 November

• According to a confidential UN report seen by Reuters, the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) is using food as a weapon of war to target civilians by blocking life-saving aid in some areas.
• Associated Press interview with the head of World Food Programme, David Beasley “End Hunger, End Conflict”
• Brief summary by Reuters on the status quo in South Sudan: “Little hope of peace talks as renewed fighting looms in South Sudan”

Sunday 12 November

• GoSS has withdrawn troops and armoured vehicles surrounding the former SPLA chief of staff Paul Malong’s house after Malong agreed to reduce the number of bodyguards in his service. The move marks the end of a weeklong standoff and tense situation in Juba. Malong is still in his house in Juba, but Kiir has reportedly assured Malong’s safety and he plans on leaving the country shorty.