This Week in South Sudan – Week 38

Monday 14 September

• According to the NGO Forum, a consortium of NGOs, aid workers in South Sudan are being attacked with greater frequency.
• President Salva Kiir will not lead the government’s delegation to the summit of heads of state and government at the UN General Assembly in New York.
• According to local officials, thousands of people have fled from the Wunduruba area toward Lainya in Central Equatoria, due to clashes between government and rebel forces.

Tuesday 15 September

• The SPLA (IO) dismissed pro-government claims that they were repulsed from Guit county in Unity, saying their forces withdrew voluntarily.
• Presidents Omer Hassan al-Bashir and Yoweri Museveni met in Khartoum to discuss bilateral relations and peace in South Sudan. SPLM/A (IO) leader Riek Machar also met with the two to discuss the implementation of the peace agreement.
• President Salva Kiir held a speech in Juba on the implementation of the peace agreement. ****

Wednesday 16 September

• There are speculations that the UK will devote troops and personnel to enforce the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. However, UK ambassador in South Sudan, Tim Morris, said the decision has not yet been made.
• Russia and Angola allegedly blocked a UN Security Council proposal to impose sanctions on army chief Paul Malong and rebel general Johnson Olony.

Thursday 17 September

• According to IGAD mediators, SPLA carried out a helicopter gunship attack on rebel positions only days after committing to the latest IGAD peace deal.
• The SPLM/A (IO) condemned the ongoing offensive by president Salva Kiir’s forces targeting civilians and SPLA (IO) bases in Wunduruba payam in Central Equatoria state. The SPLA denied carrying out the attacks. ****

Friday 18 September

• The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in Maridi County, Western Equatoria reached 183 on Friday according to a regional official. 60 more people are still unaccounted for.
• Following their talks in Khartoum, Riek Machar says President Yoweri Museveni agreed to pull UPDF out from South Sudan, but he did not disclose the timeframe for the withdrawal.

Saturday 19 September

• Authorities in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State have initiated dialogue with officials in Uganda’s Lamwo district over cross border relations, following high tensions last month.