What’s new? In February 2020, South Sudan’s two main belligerents began forming a unity government pursuant to a peace deal inked a year and a half earlier. But the pact is fragile, smaller conflicts are still ablaze and the threat of return to full-blown civil war remains.
Why does it matter? Forthcoming elections could test the peace deal severely. Looking further ahead, conflict will continue to plague South Sudan until its leaders forge a political system that distributes power more widely. The cost of cyclical fighting since 2013 has been steep: hundreds of thousands dead and millions uprooted from their homes.
Gov’t, SSOMA-Malong talks postponed yet again due to Covid-19
South Sudan s Presidential Advisor, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin [Left] shakes hand with SSOMA s Pagan Amum as Paolo Impagliazzo, Sant’Egidio secretary-general looks on in December 2020. Courtesy
Talks between the government of South Sudan and a faction of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) led by Generals Paul Malong and Pagan Amum have been postponed yet again after government delegates tested positive for Covid-19.
The talks slated for 2nd February 2021 in Rome were to take place in Nairobi, Kenya from the 18th to the 23rd of January but the talks mediators, the Community of Sant Egidio, did not receive formal approval from the Kenyan government.
File photo: Bishop Hillary Luate Adeba
The Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Yei, Hillary Luate Adeba, recently retired after serving for the last twenty years. According to the constitution of the Episcopal Church, a bishop can retire from active service after clocking 65 years.
Radio Tamazuj caught up with and sounded out Bishop Adeba about his achievements, regrets, and future plans. Below are excerpts:
Q: When did you retire?
A: I have been the Bishop for Yei diocese for the last 20 years and I stepped down on the 1st of January 2021. I have stepped down with all happiness because my time as a bishop is over and I thank God for having kept me in this service for the last 20 years.
Kiir expected to name deputy governors this evening
President Salva Kiir attends the state funeral of Kenya’s former president Daniel arap Moi, in Kenya, Feb 11, 2020. (AP photo)
South Sudan s Presidential Adviser for National Security Affairs Tut Gatluak Manime has announced that President Salva Kiir is seeking to name some deputy governors this evening.
In an impromptu press conference in Juba this afternoon, Tut told the press that President Kiir would appoint some deputy governors this evening and that the state governments will be formed by the first week of January 2021.
“Today the President of the Republic, Salva Kiir Mayardit, would issue a directive for the appointment of deputy governors for the states except for Upper Nile state because it s awaiting conduct of a general conference involving sons of the state,” Tut Gatluak said. “After which the government of the state shall be formed. In the allocation of positions in the states, the positions of governor in