This Week in South Sudan – Week 12

Tuesday 22 March

• Officials in Morobo County, Central Equatoria State claimed unknown gunmen kidnapped three SPLA wildlife officers on duty and stole dozens of machine guns.
• Foreign Affairs Minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, denied reports that he had conceded the disputed Abyei region to Sudan by referring to the area’s residents as non-South Sudanese. President Salva Kiir later removed Barnaba Marial Benjamin from his position as foreign affairs minister.

Wednesday 23 March

• The United Nations Human Rights Council has established a three-person commission to investigate human rights abuses in South Sudan.
• Riek Machar visited Nairobi for peace implementation consultations with SPLM (IO) stakeholders and regional leaders like Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta.
• The Guardian: “When will the UN be held to account for failing to protect civilians?”

Thursday 24 March

• The SPLA accused the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) of carrying out aerial bombardments on SPLA forces inside South Sudan, destroying weapons and army shelters in the northern Upper Nile region. SAF later denied the allegations.
• According to a local official, authorities in Western Equatoria State arrested a five-person team of ceasefire monitors in Yambio town last week and expelled them to Juba.
• The Guardian: “The crisis in South Sudan can’t be solved with more money. We need peace”
• Institute for Security Studies: “Think Again: Yes, targeted sanctions can work in South Sudan”

Friday 25 March

• The SPLA (IO) released names of government soldiers who they claim recently defected to them from Nasir town, Upper Nile State.
• 22 SPLA (IO) police generals arrived in Juba for the joint integrated police force in accordance with the August 2015 peace agreement.

Monday 28 March

• 39 SPLA (IO) soldiers arrived in Juba, as part of the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement. The soldiers mark the first deployment of a minimum force of 1,370 SPLA (IO) soldiers set to arrive in Juba ahead of SPLM (IO) leader Riek Machar’s arrival.