This Week in South Sudan – Week 41

Wednesday 11 October

• According to a report by the campaigning and advocacy organization One, South Sudan is the toughest nation in the world for girls to receive an education, with nearly three-quarters failing to attend even primary school.
• Al Jazeera video report: “Oil-rich South Sudan faces fuel shortage crisis”
• While the organizers of South Sudan’s first international oil conference lauded it as a success, international media report that Kiir was a no show and that the conference failed to attract the biggest energy companies.
• The Transitional Government of National Unity’s various coalition parties will enter into joint consultations at IGAD’s upcoming peace deal revitalization, despite some internal objections. Meanwhile, the opposition group, the National Resistance Front/Army, has protested against its exclusion from the IGAD consultations.

Thursday 12 October

• The Economist: “As South Sudan implodes, America reconsiders its support for the regime”

Friday 13 October

• Efforts by the National Dialogue steering committee to meet with Riek Machar failed again as he declined to meet them for consultations in South Africa. However, he did meet with the delegation’s religious leaders.
• The Guardian, in pictures: “Running with the rebels in South Sudan”

Saturday 14 October

• Al Jazeera, in pictures: “Seeking shelter in war-torn South Sudan”

Sunday 15 October

• The Washington Post’s in-depth interview with an unapologetic President Salva Kiir “South Sudan is a disaster. Its president says: Not my fault.”
• PBS in-depth: “Why reporting from South Sudan is so difficult — and critically needed”

Monday 16 October

• A World Food Program report sheds new light on the food crisis in South Sudan as it demonstrates how the same plate of food costs the average consumer US$1 in New York, but more than US$ 320 in South Sudan.