Posts tagged South Sudan

After years of struggle, South Sudan finally gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011, and Africa’s longest-running civil war came to an end. But several years of conflict have resulted in a collapsing economy and undermined agriculture, leaving 1 million people on the verge of starvation. Will the world’s newest country ever get any better? asks Linus Unah.

The 31st Ordinary Session of the African Union’s (AU) Executive Council took place on the 30th of June. The 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of States and Government followed. We bring you highlights of the issues discussed by the African Union Commission chairman H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat.

South Sudan; the world’s youngest nation; has cancelled its sixth Independence Day celebrations for the second year in a row. The country celebrates its independence on the 9 of July but due to the worsening economic crisis, this year’s anniversary has been called off.

Thabo Mbeki is no hero. Neither is he the worst leader to emerge from the ranks of the African National Congress. A son of the liberation movement to a fault; an idealist who is romantic about Africa, and a vessel of complexity – now, that he is. Mbeki turned 75 on Sunday. As birthday wishes continue pouring in for the statesman, we reflect on his leadership. Will he cringe as he recalls some of his missteps or remain grandiose about his unfinished African Renaissance chapter?

Six aid workers were ambushed and killed in South Sudan last week. The aid workers were travelling from the country’s capital, Juba to Pibor. The victims included three South Sudanese and three Kenyans. The U.N says, close to 80 aid workers have been killed in South Sudan since the beginning of the conflict in December 2013. The continued killing of aid workers severely affects the provision of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in a country facing famine, and political instability. The attack has continued to draw strong criticism across the world.

Several conflicts have rocked various African countries over the years, leading to the death, injury and displacement of millions. There are current cases of political instability across the continent, with violence and unrest raging on in South Sudan, Burundi, and Somalia amongst other insecure countries. Against the backdrop of the unrest in these countries, we revisit seven civil wars in Africa, which we must never forget.

The east African region is facing a humanitarian crisis. Citizens from various countries face hunger and starvation due to the ongoing drought, and there are concerns that the situation could deteriorate if humanitarian assistance to avert the crisis delays. The United Nations estimates that close to 17 million people are facing hunger in nine countries. The countries include hard-hit by the crisis include Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. Urgent assistance is required to avert this crisis and various humanitarian organisations including World Vision are raising funds to provide desperately and urgent life-saving supplies to the most vulnerable children, including water, food and basic medical supplies.

Is Africa, yet again, backing a ‘power sharing’ deal that in reality completely favours the incumbent?

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has increasingly come under criticism for failing to achieve its core mandate – namely to protect civilians – following the July 2016 crisis in the capital city, Juba.

“Don’t expect us to live beneath our status”. That’s the reaction of South Sudan’s presidency to an explosive corruption report released earlier this week. The report, with meticulous detail, illustrated how president Salva Kiir, former vice president Riek Machar and the country’s military top brass have profiteered from civil war by siphoning off the proceeds of the young nation’s oil wealth. Kiir’s office called the report “a piece of Hollywood theatre” and has threatened to sue the people behind the exposé in the US