This Week in South Sudan – Week 50

Monday 12 December

• The South Sudan President’s office issued a statement denying reports in which several officials and presidential guards claimed over USD 280 million was stolen.
• HSBA Issue Brief: “Legitimacy, exclusion, and power: Taban Deng Gai and the South Sudan peace process”

Tuesday 13 December

• Riek Machar held as ‘guest’ in Pretoria, South Africa.
• According to a IMF ‘End-of-Mission’ press release, South Sudan faces massive economic challenges owing to its on-going conflict and subdued oil prices.
• Voice of America: “Thousands of South Sudanese IDPs Take Shelter at Wau Church”

Wednesday 14 December

• President Salva Kiir launched a national dialogue for forgiveness. Riek Machar rejected the move as ‘bogus’.
• In a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council, a special commission to South Sudan delivered a statementdescribing the state of the country in dire terms.
  • Reuters: “Troops and court needed fast to avert South Sudan genocide: U.N.”
  • The Guardian: “Only swift action can avert South Sudan genocide, says UN human rights chief.”

Thursday 15 December

• President Salva Kiir has ordered the national police leadership to shoot dead any armed person they fail to apprehend.
• CNN: “We’re ignoring a possible genocide in South Sudan”
• Al Jazeera: “Nowhere to run for the children of South Sudan”

Friday 16 December

• Over the last week, South Sudanese authorities have expelled two top officials from the Norwegian Refugee Council, both the country director and an area manager in Alek, Warrap State, without explanation.
• The United Nations Security Council has unanimously extended its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan through 2017 and bolstered its mandate.
• According to UNICEF, 1,300 South Sudanese children were recruited by armed forces and armed groups in 2016, bringing the total number child soldiers since 2013 to over 17,000.
• BBC: “South Sudan refugee crisis: The wooden bridge between death and safety”

Saturday 17 December

• At least 17 people, including three women, were killed and nine others wounded in an attack by cattle raiders on Jalle area in the north of Bor town, Jonglei State.

Sunday 18 December

• Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth arrived in Khartoum for talks with his Sudanese counterpart on the oil transit fees.
• Voice of America: “Mass atrocities feared in South Sudan as ethnic violence is stoked by hunger”