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Showing posts from March, 2025

Fear and Hope in Juba: 623 Arrested in Battle Against Gang Violence

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‎ ‎Central Equatoria State (CES) security forces have arrested 623 individuals suspected of affiliation with notorious street gangs in Juba as part of a sweeping anti-crime operation across the capital . ‎ ‎The suspects are allegedly linked to high-profile gangs such as 4SG Slime, West Coast, ODA, Killers Gang, Black Devils, among others. ‎ ‎While detailed profiles of the detainees remain pending, officials emphasize the operation is in direct response to a recent surge in heinous criminal activity including a particularly disturbing gang rape in the Shirikat area of Juba, which sparked national outrage and hastened the crackdown.  ‎ ‎In the wake of the arrests, CES Governor Rabi Emmanuel Mujung has renewed calls for reformatory schools aimed at providing vocational training and rehabilitation for youth implicated in gang activities. ‎ ‎This includes proposals for a holistic strategy pairing enforcement with social and mental health support a key element raised during recent securi...
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South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Will Face Legal Action Amid Rising Political Tensions, Taban Deng Gai confirmed.

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‎ Vice President Taban Deng Gai.  ‎South Sudan’s Vice President and Chairperson of the Infrastructure Cluster, Taban Deng Gai, has announced that First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar will face court following an ongoing investigation.  ‎ ‎Speaking at an Iftar Ramadan event in Juba, Deng stated that Machar remains under house arrest and will have access to legal representation from either South Sudan or abroad.  ‎ ‎The specific charges against him are yet to be disclosed. ‎ ‎FVP Dr. Machar was reportedly detained by the country’s defense minister and chief of national security, accused of involvement in recent military clashes in Nasir, Upper Nile State. His arrest has sparked concerns from the United States and the United Nations, with fears that the situation could reignite ethnic tensions reminiscent of South Sudan’s 2013-2018 civil war. ‎ ‎The main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has declared that the 2018 peace deal is...
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South Sudan’s Political Crisis Deepens as Bishops Sound Alarm Over Machar’s Detention ‎

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‎South Sudan is facing a deepening political crisis following the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, a move that has triggered national and international alarm.  ‎Concerns are mounting that this development could unravel the already fragile peace agreement and reignite violent conflict in the world’s youngest nation. ‎ ‎Machar’s Detention Sparks Unrest ‎According to reports, Machar was placed under house arrest after heavily armed government forces entered his residence, disarmed his bodyguards, and served him with an arrest warrant on unspecified charges. The SPLM-IO, Machar’s party, immediately condemned the act, calling it a violation of the 2018 peace agreement and declaring the accord “dead.” ‎This development comes at a time when South Sudan is preparing for its first-ever elections scheduled for December 2025. However, political tensions and distrust between President Salva Kiir and Machar longtime rivals turned uneasy partners have raised doubts about whether th...
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#Opinion: PUBLIC ATTENTION: Is social media getting wild in South Sudan?*

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  James Gatdet Dak I-O Press Secretary  26/3/2025 *By James Gatdet Dak* Misinformation and disinformation about the current events in South Sudan have been so rampant on social media these days. Actually for the last few weeks or months, social media has become very wild with rumors, bad wishes and fabrications.  While fake news or fake contents may sound sweet to many people, or look very interesting to hear and read, and to believe, they nonetheless remain as lies, or half truth, and NOT the truth or facts.  Some people post their own imaginations. Some think they do it with a good intention to make people think about the worst that can happen and prepare for. Others do it with pure evil. They post things that they imagine to happen. This is either to give a clue to rivals about what they should do, or preempt in suspicion of the rival side, or to watch out for, and vice versa. Many people love doing this without remorse. It sometimes forces me to laugh when listen...
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Online Hate Speech Threatens South Sudan’s Fragile Peace as Political Tensions Soar ‎

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President Kiir and Dr.Riek ‎A new report by Digital Rights Frontlines, an organization monitoring online hate speech in South Sudan, has raised alarm over the rising tide of ethnic-based incitement spreading panic and division across the country.  ‎ ‎The surge in inflammatory rhetoric comes at a time of acute political uncertainty, with fears that South Sudan could slide back into war. ‎ ‎The warning follows the dramatic arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar on Wednesday, further straining the already fragile 2018 peace deal with President Salva Kiir.  ‎ ‎The agreement, which ended five years of brutal civil war that claimed 400,000 lives, is now hanging by a thread. ‎ ‎Observers fear that online hate speech—mainly targeting the Dinka and Nuer communities could reignite the ethnic tensions that fueled the last war.  ‎ ‎“The internet is now a battlefield where words are being weaponized to deepen divisions,” Digital Rights Frontlines stated in its report. ‎ ‎As South ...
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Raila Odinga Blocked from Meeting FVP Dr. Riek Machar as South Sudan Crisis Deepens, FVP Under House Arrest Amid Probe into General’s Killing ‎

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Raila Odinga and President Kiir.  ‎Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s attempt to meet with South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar in Juba has failed after President Salva Kiir declined the request. Machar remains under house arrest amid an ongoing investigation into the killing of a top general, a move that has further inflamed tensions in the country. ‎Odinga, who was on a mediation mission to de-escalate rising political tensions in South Sudan, met with President Kiir on Friday. However, sources close to the discussions confirmed that Kiir refused to allow Odinga access to Machar, who has been confined to his residence under heavy security. ‎Machar Under Investigation ‎The First Vice President’s house arrest follows deadly clashes in Nasir, Upper Nile State, which resulted in the killing of a high ranking military officer and at least ten others. The government alleges that forces loyal to Machar were involved in the violence, prompting an official probe into h...
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‎South Sudan on the Brink? President Kiir and UN Envoy Address Growing Stability Concerns ‎

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UN Special Representative Mr. Nicholas Haysom and President Kiir.  ‎Amid rising tensions and growing fears of renewed conflict, President Salva Kiir met with the United Nations Special Representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, to discuss the country’s fragile stability.  This high-stakes meeting follows a stark warning from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who expressed deep concern about South Sudan’s trajectory. ‎ ‎The urgency of the discussion was heightened by the recent arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, a development that has sent shockwaves throughout the country.  ‎ ‎Dr. Riek Machar’s party, the SPLM-IO, has since declared the 2018 peace agreement dead, raising fears that South Sudan could once again plunge into violence. ‎ ‎Mr. Haysom, delivered a grave message from the UN: South Sudan stands on the edge of a relapse into civil war. He urged leaders to prioritize dialogue over conflict, warning that the country cannot afford another deva...
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Uganda Denies Using Chemical Weapons in South Sudan Amid UN Allegations ‎

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Uganda Army (UPDF) ‎Ugandan army has strongly denied accusations of using chemical or barrel weapons in South Sudan, following a recent UN report suggesting that a highly flammable liquid was deployed in aerial strikes.  ‎ ‎This comes just weeks after Uganda deployed special forces to South Sudan to support government forces amid ongoing conflict between SSPDF and the white army. ‎ ‎The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) dismissed the allegations, instead accusing First Vice President Riek Machar and his allies of spreading "AI-generated propaganda" to discredit Uganda’s military presence.  ‎ ‎The accusations have raised concerns over the nature of military operations in South Sudan, with potential implications for regional stability. ‎ ‎If verified, the UN’s findings could lead to diplomatic fallout and further scrutiny of foreign military involvement in the conflict.  ‎ ‎The situation remains fluid as international bodies and South Sudanese authorities investigate the...
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Kenya Intervenes in South Sudan Crisis as Ruto Sends Raila Odinga to South Sudan

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Raila Amolo Odinga ‎ Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as Kenya’s special envoy to South Sudan in response to the worsening crisis following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and his wife, Interior Minister Angelina Teny.  ‎ ‎FVP Dr. Riek Machar party, the SPLM-IO, has declared that his detention marks the collapse of the 2018 peace agreement, sparking fears of renewed conflict. ‎ ‎Raila Odinga is expected to engage with South Sudanese leaders and other stakeholders to de-escalate tensions and prevent the country from slipping back into war.   ‎ ‎President William Ruto's decision happened because of consultations with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, underlining Kenya’s commitment to regional stability. ‎ ‎The international community, including the UN and the U.S. has expressed deep concern over the situation.  ‎ ‎The UN warns that South Sudan is on the brink of wide...
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Kenyan Government Deploys Police Specialists to South Sudan for UN Peacekeeping

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  Kenya Police on duty.  ‎Government of Kenya has deployed four police specialists to South Sudan under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to support peacekeeping and regional stability.  ‎ ‎The officers, drawn from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), will serve for 12 months. ‎ ‎The police specialists mission includes tackling cattle raiding and supporting efforts to curb inter-communal violence, which has been a key driver of instability in South Sudan.  ‎ ‎This deployment of the police specialist to South Sudan comes amid rising tensions, with UNMISS recently warning of a potential full-blown civil war. ‎ ‎Kenya’s contribution reinforces its role in regional security efforts as part of broader initiatives to prevent conflict and support South Sudan’s fragile peace process.
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Political Tensions in Nyirol County as Commissioner Ordered to Leave ‎

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  Hon. James Bol Makuey ‎Political tensions in South Sudan’s Jonglei State have escalated after Nyirol County Commissioner James Bol Makuey was barred from his office and given an ultimatum to leave.  ‎ ‎This comes in the wake of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar’s house arrest on Wednesday, raising concerns over the stability of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS). ‎ ‎Nyirol County, a stronghold of Machar’s SPLM-IO, was allocated to President Salva Kiir’s SPLM as part of the power-sharing deal. However, on Thursday, SPLM-IO members and local youth demanded the commissioner’s immediate departure, stating he was no longer welcome. Community leaders intervened to prevent violence, allowing him time to prepare for his exit. ‎ ‎This situation highlights growing tensions between SPLM and SPLM-IO, with concerns that similar incidents could occur in other contested areas.  ‎ ‎Key officials are claiming to be unaware of the developments, the political rift threatens...
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Just before the arrest of FVP Dr. Riek Machar: UNMISS Calls for Immediate Ceasefire Amid Rising Violence in South Sudan ‎

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UNMISS Press Release  ‎The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has issued an urgent appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities following renewed clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).  ‎Fighting has been reported in areas south of Juba, including Rejaf and Wunaliat, as well as in Upper Nile State, where armed groups continue to mobilize. ‎ ‎Rising Violence and Humanitarian Concerns ‎The situation is rapidly deteriorating, with reports of aerial bombardments targeting civilian areas. Some attacks allegedly involved highly flammable liquid-based devices that intensify explosions, causing significant casualties and injuries. UNMISS has warned that the violence threatens to plunge the country back into large-scale conflict, reversing years of peacebuilding efforts. ‎Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, stressed that South ...
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South Sudan’s Political Crisis Deepens as VP Riek Machar Arrested ‎

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FVP Dr. Riek Machar  ‎JUBA, South Sudan March 27, 2025 ‎South Sudan's political tensions have escalated dramatically following the arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar on March 26, 2025.  ‎Government armed forces, reportedly led by the Minister of Defense and the Chief of National Security, surrounded Machar’s residence in Juba before taking him into custody.  ‎FVP Dr.Riek personal security team was disarmed, and sources indicate that an arrest warrant had been issued, though the exact charges remain unclear. ‎Political Crackdown & Rising Tensions ‎Machar’s arrest follows a series of detentions of high-ranking officials affiliated with his Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).  Earlier this month, Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief General Gabriel Duop Lam were also taken into custody amid growing hostilities between Machar’s loyalists and forces aligned with President Salva Kiir. ‎The South Sudanese government...
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