This Week in South Sudan – Week 47

Dear Readers, please note that there will be no news update next week. We will be back on Sunday December 11 with a two-week TWISS update for week 48 and 49.

Monday 21 November

• A contingent of 350 Japanese peacekeepers, with a mandated to use force to protect UN staff and aid workers, arrived in Juba.

Wednesday 23 November

• A senior SPLM (IO) member warned IGAD against clamping down on Riek Machar, after the SPLM (IO) leader was refused entry into Ethiopia and Sudan over the weekend.
• Members of South Sudan’s national parliament have called for accountability for officials who manage the country’s public funds.
• Voice of America: “South Sudanese Flee One of Country’s Last Peaceful Towns”

Thursday 24 November

• President Salva Kiir and Omar al-Bashir agreed to open the borders between their two countries under a side-line meeting during the African-Arab summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Friday 25 November

• Aid organizations warn of soaring starvation threat numbers in South Sudan as the conflict spreads to rural areas, cutting farmers’ access to their agricultural lands.
• The Yei Power operating company has ceased its operations over what it described as continuous insecurity compounded by unsustainable high operating expenses.
• President Salva Kiir has nominated former internal affairs minister, Aleu Ayieny Aleu for the position of Secretary General for East African regional bloc (IGAD)

Sunday 27 November

• The Government of South Sudan has agreed to accept the deployment of the UN Regional Protection Force after months of hesitation.