This Week in South Sudan – Week 11

Monday 10 March

• An anti-UN protest took place in Juba as a response to the discovery of a UN convoy with arms.
• UN reported that the conflict in South Sudan has caused a record low food-security rate.
• Salva Kiir denied that he has formed a commission to prepare for SPLM leadership meeting.

Tuesday 11 March

• The treason trial against the politicians accused of being involved in a coup against the South Sudan government (Pagan Amum, Oyai Deng Ajak, Majak D’Agoot, and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth) started.
• UN expressed fear of the approaching rainy season’s impact on the conditions in the UN camps and on the availability of aid.
• Brigadier General Ramesh Kumar Pun arrived in South Sudan from Nepal to become the new UNMISS Deputy Force Commander.
• The UNMISS spokesperson, Ariane Quentier explained to the press that the UN weapons found on Sunday, were intended for Ghanaian peace keeping forces and that an error in labelling of the goods caused the regretful transport by road rather than air.
• Medicins Sans Frontiers launched a press release stating that 15,000 seek have fled their homes in Upper Nile the past weeks.

Wednesday 12 March - Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, expressed disappointment with the South Sudan Government’s “unreasonable and groundless” accusations against the UN.- The trial against the four politicians charged with treason was adjourned. The South Sudan government requested maximum penalty for the accused.- Local officials reported that SPLA/M-in-Opposition rebels have been forced out of Duk County in Jonglei.- SPLA/M-in-Opposition expressed that they consider boycotting the peace talks if the outcome of the court goes against the four politicians charged of treason.Thursday 13 March- IGAD leaders gathered in Addis to discuss the situation in South Sudan and the continuation of the peace talks.- The IGAD countries announced that East African forces will be deployed in South Sudan to monitor the ceasefire.- Fighting in Malakal was reported.- Acting Secretary-General of the SPLM visited Lakes State.Friday 14 March- A conference where civil society gathered to discuss how they best can be involved in negotiating peace started in Addis Ababa.- South Sudan government accepted the deployment of IGAD troops.- Riek Machar warned that if IGAD troops are deployed, the SPLM/A-in-Opposition may boycott the coming round of peace negotiationsSaturday 15 March- Four exiled political parties decided to perform in the peace negotiations as a unified block.- Large protest against the UN in Wau, but the protesters were stopped in their attempt to storm the UN base.Sunday 16 March- SPLM/A-in-Oppostion negotiation leader, Taban Deng Gai, questioned the deployment of IGAD troops in South Sudan.