This Week in South Sudan – Week 13

Tuesday 28 Mars

• Conflicting reports on clashes in Kajo-Keji, prisoners of war allegedly freed following a prison raid by the SPLA (IO).
• New research paper by the Enough Project: “A Way Out? Models for negotiating an exit plan for entrenched leadership in South Sudan

Wednesday 29 Mars

• President Salva Kiir appointed a new governor of Ruweng State, Them Machar Kuol, after former governor, Theja Da Adwad Deng, shifted allegiance from SPLM (IO) led by Taban Deng to the SPLM. The shift was met by disapproval by civil society leaders.
• The Government of South Sudan has reiterated its rejection to opposition groups’ call to hold the national dialogue process abroad.

Thursday 30 Mars

• SPLA (IO) released the three foreign oil workers abducted on 9 March in the Adar oilfield, Upper Nile State. The SPLA (IO) warned it will continue to target oil workers in order to stop oil companies from operating. Despite this, Nigeria’s Oranto Petroleum International Ltd. announced it will invest USD $500 million to develop block B.
• CNN, picture story of South Sudanese refugees: “The perilous road to safety for South Sudan’s refugees”

Friday 31 Mars

• According to a peace monitoring report seen by AP, government troops deliberately burned down thousands of civilian’s homes in the Yei region in late 2016.
• The Troika, consisting of the US, UK and Norway, welcomed the recent commitment made by President Salva Kiir to IGAD leaders to announce a unilateral ceasefire by governmental forces.

Saturday 1 April

• Riek Machar met with Festus Mogae, the head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in South Africa to discuss Kiir’s calls for a unilateral ceasefire and a national dialogue.
• The Washington Post: “South Sudan’s civil war creates a new lost generation”