This Week in South Sudan – Week 22

Monday 25 May

• The South Sudanese government said it welcomed IGAD’sappointment of Sudan’s president Bashir as the new leader of the IGAD peace negotiations.
• The SPLA announced that its forces had regained control of Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state, more than one week after the SPLA (IO) captured it.
• An advance team of South Sudan’s former political detainees, the G10, are expected to arrive in Juba under the leadership of former cabinet minister, Deng Alor to initiate talks on the re-unification process of the SPLM.
• Bloomberg: South Sudan Oil Field Becomes Battleground as Economy Reels.

Tuesday 26 May

• Despite previous denials and contradictions, the Government of South Sudan admitted that a new rebel group under the leadership of the former MP Wesley Weluba has emerged and captured Mundri town in Western Equatoria state last Friday. Furthermore, the SPLM accused Sudan of supporting the new group with weapons, which the Government of Sudan later
• President Salva Kiir removed the managing director of the national oil company Nilepet, Paul Adong, and replaced him with, Joseph Cleto Deng Kuol.
• Al Jazeera: South Sudan: A man-made catastrophe.

Wednesday 27 May

• Two weeks of inter-clan fighting between two Dinka rival groups left between 18- 25 dead and 13 wounded, Warrap state authorities said the situation in the greater Gogrial counties has now calmed down after they deployed soldiers to quell the tension.
• Six people including a police officer were reported killed and four others wounded in revenge killings in Rumbek Centre of Lakes State.
• Suspected Misseriya gunmen supposedly attacked two villages in the contested area of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan resulting in allegedly 19 people dead.
• A parliament committee in Uganda urged the government to withdraw the UPDF forces from South Sudan, arguing the cost of over 119 billion UGX is too much of a burden on Uganda taxpayers.

Thursday 28 May

• South Sudanese rebels under the command of Gen. Khamis Abdulatiff advised residents in Lakes state’s capital, Rumbek to vacate the town within three days.

Friday 29 May

• The UN Security Council passed a resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 30 November 2015.
• The SPLA came under attack in Yambio county in Western Equatoria state, allegedly by the newly emerged rebel group Revolutionary Movement for National Salvation (REMNASA).
• The UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Eugene Owusu as the new deputy special representative of its mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) succeeding Toby Lanzer.
• South Sudanese Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said patrols in the capital by UN peacekeepers are “frightening” residents and that their movements should be restricted.
• Radio Tamazuj: South Sudan conflict situation overview.

Sunday 31 May

• The SPLA (IO) seized the town of Bazia in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, located some 50km south of Wau, the state capital.
• Witnesses said that elements of the SPLA and allied militia attacked the UN base in Malakal and targeted unarmed civilians inside.