SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...
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South Sudan to Resume Cabinet Meetings After Eight-Month Hiatus ‎

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‎Juba, October 7, 2025 

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South Sudan is preparing to restart its suspended cabinet meetings next week, bringing an end to an eight-month suspension that has stalled key governmental functions. 

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Reason for the Halt and the Explanation

‎According to Martin Elia Lomuro, the Cabinet Affairs Minister, the pause was due to renovations in the main cabinet chamber as the government transitioned toward an “electronic cabinet” model. 

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He denied that the stoppage was linked to political tensions surrounding the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar. 

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‎Lomuro said that even if the main hall is not yet ready, ministers will convene in a temporary venue within government premises to resume business. 

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‎Consequences of the Delay

‎The Council of Ministers, South Sudan’s top executive body, last met in March 2025, and its regular Friday sessions traditionally chaired by President Salva Kiir or Machar have been on hold since. 

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‎One major fallout: the 2025/2026 national budget remains unapproved, leaving the government to operate without a formal spending framework. 

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‎Governance experts and observers had raised serious alarms about institutional paralysis and weakening executive oversight. 

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‎Commitment to Elections & Peace Agreement Deadlines

‎At a session of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Lomuro reiterated the government’s commitment to holding general elections, as required by the 2018 peace agreement. 

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‎He acknowledged ongoing challenges, including:

  • ‎Absence of a permanent constitution
  • ‎Pending issues with census data
  • ‎Questions around electoral management

‎Lomuro noted that the government is consulting the United Nations to navigate these hurdles, and that provisions critical to elections will receive close attention even if some are unmet. 

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‎He emphasized the urgency: “We must end the transitional period smoothly as the president declared that he would not take this country back to war.” 

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‎What to Watch

‎Indicators; Why It Matters

  • ‎First resumed cabinet meeting: Signals reactivation of executive functions
  • ‎Location of meeting: Will they use main chamber or interim hall?
  • ‎Budget approval status: Restores fiscal legitimacy
  • ‎Clarity on election timeline: Critical to South Sudan’s peace transition
  • ‎Progress on constitutional & census work: Foundational for credible elections

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SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...
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