This Week in South Sudan – Week 40

Tuesday 3 October

• After clashes in Waat, the warring factions file contradicting reports as they both claimed victory, before more fighting ensued later in the week.

Wednesday 4 October

• To boost bilateral trade and the South Sudanese economy, the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) is negotiating with the Government of Sudan to reopen river transportation on the White Nile.
• Reuters: “Daughters of violence: South Sudanese refugee rape victims in Uganda”

Thursday 5 October

• GoSS announced radical reforms in the security sector, to improve the public’s confidence in the various branches of the security apparatus.
• GoSS and the Government of Uganda has signed an electricity agreement aiming to deliver cross-border power supply from Uganda to Nimule in Eastern Equatoria and to Kaya in Central Equatoria State.
• The Government of Sudan has agreed to open a humanitarian corridor to deliver food aid to South Sudan.

Friday 6 October

• The Ethiopian and Sudanese foreign ministers, Workneh Gebeyehu and Ibrahim Ghandour met with Riek Machar in South Africa to discuss the revitalization of IGAD’s peace process. Machar later described the meeting as ‘fruitful’, while Taban Deng criticized IGAD’s separate consultations, saying they undermine the Transitional Government of National Unity.

Monday 9 October

• Tensions increase in Uganda’s refugee camps as food rations are cut in half. This is due to the massive flood of refugees overwhelming aid agencies, combined with delayed deliveries and constraints on funding.