This Week in South Sudan – Week 9

Monday 27 February

• Reported clashes in Tharwangyiela and Thonyor areas, Unity State.
• Foreign Policy: “South Sudan’s Man-Made Famine”
• New York Times “South Sudan’s Bleak Future”
• Bloomberg: “South Sudan’s Famine Is China’s Chance to Lead”

Tuesday 28 February

• President Salva Kiir dismissed two state governors, Abraham Makoi of Western Lakes State and Rin Tueny Mabor of the Eastern Lakes State.
• Al Jazeera: “South Sudan famine: Eating water lilies to survive”
• Al Jazeera: “Dying of hunger: What is a famine?”

Wednesday 1 Mars

• The Deputy Minister of Defence, David Yayau, dismissed reports purporting his resignation.

Thursday 2 Mars

• According to a survivor, government troops burned at least 30 civilians to death, including women and children, following clashes with the SPLA (IO) in Pigi county, Jonglei State.

Friday 3 Mars

• The SPLA has arrested four of its soldiers in response to alleged mass rape and violence against civilians in Kubi village last month.
• The Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Juba, Reverend Santo Laku Pio, criticised the planned National Day of Prayer, scheduled for March 10 by Salva Kiir, as “political and mockery.”

Saturday 4 Mars

• The Government of South Sudan has ordered the withdrawal of humanitarian organisations in the famine-struck area of Mayendit, Unity State in preparations for a major military campaign.
• New York Times: “War Consumes South Sudan, a Young Nation Cracking Apart”

Sunday 5 Mars

• The SPLM (IO) plans to sue the government of Kenya over the disappearance of two of its senior officials in Nairobi in January.
• Former Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Torit, Paride Taban, resigned from his position as co-chair of the National Dialogue steering committee.