This Week in South Sudan – Week 31 & 30

Monday 27 July

• President Obama and regional leaders agreed to pressure the two South Sudanese factions to agree to a peace agreement by Aug. 17, and threatened both sides with sanctions or other measures if they do not comply.

Tuesday 28 July

• The think-tank International Crisis Group published a new report on the IGAD peace process.
• The SPLA shot a police officer in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state after he had murdered at least five people.

Wednesday 29 July

• South Sudan continues to face a shortage of foreign currency and the black market rate for USD is four times higher than the central bank official exchange rate.

Thursday 30 July

• BBC documentary on John Garang, ‘The Sudanese rebel whose death divided a country.’
• SPLA soldiers allegedly attacked a World Food Program food distribution in Dablual village in a rebel held part of Mayendit county in Unity state.

Friday 31 July

• Foreign Affairs article: ‘Cattle-Camp Politics; Letter from Leer.’
• According to government officials, at least 11 people were killed in local revenge attacks on three villages along the border of Gogrial West and East counties in Warrap state.

Saturday 1 August

• Thousands of people, comprising intellectuals, women and chiefs took to the streets of Bor, Jonglei’s state capital to protest against IGAD’s recent draft peace proposal.

Sunday 2 August

• At least 4 people were killed in Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria state, due to increased unrest between local groups and out-of-state SPLA units.

Summary of This Week in South Sudan – Week 30

Wednesday 22 July

• Internal friction has allegedly led to a split within the SPLM/A (IO) as Riek Machar relieved two of his top commanders, Peter Gatdet and Gathoth Gatkuoth. The SPLA (IO) later claimed that the reshuffle was a ‘normal administrative exercise.’

Saturday 25 July

• IGAD unveiled yet another peace agreement proposal aimed at ending the 19-year long civil war in South Sudan.