Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in relation to the corruption cases he has been fighting, according to western media reports including the BBC. Continue reading “PM Netanyahu requests Presidential pardon in long-running corruption cases”
Month: November 2025
Juba City council clears streets, proposes new vendor market
The crackdown, which began on Saturday, left several informal selling points dismantled as authorities moved to restore order and ease traffic flow.
City Mayor Christopher Sarafino Wani Swaka said the operation is intended to protect lives, improve sanitation, and ensure smooth movement across the city.
“Our primary goal is protection. We are focused on maintaining security and preserving the lives and property of citizens,” the mayor said during the operation.
Wani Swaka emphasized that traders are essential to the city’s economy and that the clean-up is not meant to disrupt their businesses but to create a safer environment.
“Since merchants in Juba are our most important customers, we came to clean the market to ensure smooth traffic flow. Our other objectives are to remove litter, improve the environment, prevent crime, and protect market visitors from pickpockets,” he explained.
According to the mayor, road encroachment by vendors has turned the Custom Market into a chaotic zone.
“Chaos has engulfed the Custom Market due to street vendors who have even encroached on the roads, obstructing traffic. This is dangerous because selling on the street, where cars travel, can cause accidents. Therefore, we took this step to organize the market,” he added.
Following consultations with Chambers of Commerce, the city council noted that nearly 30% of market stalls remain unoccupied because many traders prefer roadside selling, believing it attracts more customers.
“But let me correct this misconception: the streets belong to everyone, and they must be safe,” the mayor stressed.
To accommodate displaced vendors, the city council has prepared alternative locations—including a newly proposed open field made available through an agreement with the University of Juba.
“We have made arrangements for them. If they don’t want to go to Konyo-Konyo or Jebel, we have a field that we agreed with the University of Juba to help the vendors. But they have to cooperate with us,” Wani Swaka said.
The city council is now urging vendors to relocate to the designated sites to ensure safety and restore order along Juba’s main commercial routes.
Continue reading “Juba City council clears streets, proposes new vendor market”
Calm returns to Baliet county after November attack, S.4 exams set to proceed
Calm has returned to the Upper Nile’s Baliet county following the deadly attacks on November 14–15 in Adong Payam that claimed the lives of approximately 70 people, the authorities have said.
Speaking to Eye Radio on Sunday morning, County Commissioner Joseph Deng confirmed that most residents have returned to their communities, though a small number remain in Adong Payam, the area hardest hit by the attacks.
“The situation is currently calm; there’s nothing to report. All the villages are fine, and even the fourth-grade students will sit for their exams tomorrow,” Commissioner Deng said.
“There are no issues in any of the villages, and citizens have returned except in the villages of Adong, where the return is slow, which is quite normal given the scale of the incident the region witnessed. It was terrifying, but the return is not as complete as it was before.”
The attacks occurred on November 14 at around 5:30 a.m., when armed assailants from Ulang County launched a coordinated assault on Adong Payam from multiple directions. Initial reports stated that 66 people were killed and 65 others injured, including 29 in critical condition.
Commissioner Deng added that security has improved and that strict measures are in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“As the security committee, we have implemented strict security measures since the beginning of the attack, and we have taken high-level security precautions to prevent such incidents from happening again,” he said.
Despite the recent violence, Senior Four examinations are scheduled to take place tomorrow at the county headquarters, reflecting the improved security situation. Continue reading “Calm returns to Baliet county after November attack, S.4 exams set to proceed”
More than 44,000 candidates set to sit S.4 nation-wide exams Monday
More than 44,000 candidates across South Sudan are expected to sit for the Senior Four national examinations beginning tomorrow, December 1st, and running until December 9th, 2025. Continue reading “More than 44,000 candidates set to sit S.4 nation-wide exams Monday”
Governor Dollar makes surprise inspection visit to Malakal fish markets
Upper Nile State Governor Jacob Dollar Ruot, conducted an unexpected visit to the fish markets at the Riverside and Bulukat areas in Malakal on Sunday.
According to a post from the Office of the Governor – Upper Nile State Facebook Page unannounced stop while taking his routine Sunday walk drew enthusiastic reactions from traders and community members.
During the tour, Dollar interacted directly with fish vendors, youth groups, and market women.
He listened to concerns raised by traders, including issues surrounding market sanitation, security, and fair pricing.
Dollar was said to have observed the general market flow and inspected fish handling practices, engaging both sellers and customers to gain firsthand insight into daily market operations. Continue reading “Governor Dollar makes surprise inspection visit to Malakal fish markets”
South Sudanese with disabilities decry barriers to safe mobility
People with disabilities in South Sudan continue to face major obstacles in their daily movement, with poor road conditions and limited traffic awareness restricting access to education, work, healthcare, and public life.
Despite ongoing advocacy from disability groups, inclusive infrastructure and accessible traffic systems remain scarce, and many citizens have little understanding of mobility needs for people with disabilities.
Individuals from the visual, physical, and hearing disability communities told Eye Radio about the challenges they face navigating the streets of Juba and other towns.
Seme Lado Michael, Secretary General of the Union of Physical Disability Centre in Equatoria State, says many people with physical disabilities risk their lives when crossing roads.
He said that some live with more than one disability, making mobility even more difficult. He recalls an incident where a person who crawls was struck by a passing vehicle.
“The driver tried to flee, and when confronted, he said he didn’t believe the person was a human being,” he says.
Seme observes that while some drivers allow wheelchair users to cross, others drive past without slowing down.
He calls for stronger cooperation between disability groups and the traffic department, adding that disability needs are not reflected in current traffic rules.
He also notes that several traffic signs in Juba have faded or disappeared, leaving vulnerable road users without vital protection.
For the visually impaired, movement is equally difficult. Issa Khamis Mursal, Deputy Chairperson of the South Sudan Association of the Visually Impaired, says sidewalks meant for pedestrians are often occupied by vehicles.
“Drivers park on the sidewalks, which we blind people use for walking. Sidewalks are our safest passage,” he says.
Issa adds that many motorists do not understand white cane signals, leading to avoidable collisions.
He says several members of the visually impaired community have been hit by vehicles because drivers could not recognize the meaning of the white cane.
His association continues to mark International White Cane Day with public awareness activities and invites traffic police to take part. They are also working to have white cane rules formally included in the national traffic laws.
He mentions a recent case where a blind man injured at the Seven Day roundabout reported the matter to traffic officers as part of ongoing consultations on improving the law.
Linda Poni Tartisio from the same association lost her sight in 2003 and works at the Union for the Disabled. She uses a white cane but still faces daily risks.
“I face challenges crossing both main and side streets because of motorcycles. If I have money, I hire a motorcycle to avoid the danger,” she says.
Linda notes that even with mobility training, poor traffic discipline continues to put visually impaired people at risk. She says many understand what the white cane signifies, yet visually impaired citizens still struggle to move safely along public roads.
For the deaf community, mobility concerns take a different form. According to Kachinga Peter, Chairperson of the South Sudan National Association of the Deaf, deaf pedestrians walk against the flow of traffic so they can see oncoming vehicles.
“We cannot hear if there is danger behind us. We rely entirely on our eyes,” he says through sign-language interpreter Jaklin Night Charles.
Kachinga explains that communication with authorities is often difficult because many traffic police officers have no sign-language training. As a result, deaf citizens struggle to report violations, accidents, or dangerous road conditions.
Across disability communities, the call is clear: South Sudan needs a more inclusive traffic system, with visible signage, enforcement of existing regulations, trained traffic officers, and consistent public education.
Advocates say safer roads for people with disabilities are essential not only for movement, but also for dignity, equality, and full participation in society.
With efforts underway to introduce white cane rules into traffic law and disability organizations seeking deeper cooperation with authorities, many hope South Sudan is beginning to move toward safer and more inclusive streets for everyone.
NB: This story is reported with a grant from Journalists for Human Rights under the ‘Tackling Mis/Disinformation Project,’ funded by the Peace and Stabilization Program of the Government of Canada.”
Continue reading “South Sudanese with disabilities decry barriers to safe mobility”
South Sudan’s gold trade almost entirely outside state control, report finds
South Sudan produces an estimated five tonnes of gold every year, yet none of it is officially recorded or exported through legal channels, according to new research highlighting the country’s deeply informal and largely unregulated mining sector.
The study, which was released by SWISSAID, depicts a gold economy that is dominated by small-scale and artisanal miners that operate independently of the government and with simple tools.
Government authorities have failed to oversee the extraction of minerals despite the existence of regulations, which has led to the involvement of international dealers, armed organizations, including corrupt officials.
According to the report, “mining in South Sudan is poorly regulated and enforcement is weak,” and the industry is characterized by “informality, opacity, and secretiveness.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining does not publish production figures, and the country is not a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.
Key institutions, including the Bank of South Sudan and the National Bureau of Statistics, also provide no official data. As a result, neither production volumes nor export values are captured in national records.
A senior Ministry official previously acknowledged that “there is no formal mining in South Sudan,” while the report notes that this data vacuum “should be viewed as more than simply the result of neglect by the authorities.”
Researchers estimate annual production at around five tones based on the value of gold believed to have been smuggled out in 2022.
The Ministry of Mining told SWISSAID that this figure is “more realistic” than earlier estimates of up to 24 tonnes per year, which experts say are excessively high.
An expert consulted by SWISSAID said the higher estimates were “excessively high,” adding that 24 tonnes would be worth nearly USD 1 billion, an amount he described as “implausible for South Sudan.”
It said gold mining in South Sudan is almost entirely artisanal, concentrated mainly in Eastern and Central Equatoria. Tens of thousands of miners work in hazardous conditions, often in areas controlled by armed groups.
According to the report, forces including the South Sudan People’s Defence Force, SPLA-IO, the National Salvation Front and the National Security Service have imposed informal taxes, seized mining areas, or directly participated in mining to supplement low salaries.
Citing a Sentry report, it said: “Some government officials, their relatives, and close associates have fostered a weak regulatory environment susceptible of exploitation.”
Weak governance, porous borders and non-competitive official gold prices have encouraged smuggling. Gold is routinely moved out of the country through unofficial routes into Kenya and Uganda, or flown from Juba to the United Arab Emirates.
Some of this gold is reportedly reclassified as Kenyan or Ugandan before re-export, while other shipments are believed to go directly to China through networks of Chinese buyers operating in Juba.
According to GI-TOC, “Chinese nationals are reported to be the biggest buyers in Juba.”
Official import data only captures a fraction of these flows. The UAE reported USD 20 million in gold imports from South Sudan in 2022 and USD 27 million in 2023—equivalent to less than a tonne per year.
Uganda reported importing nearly two tonnes in 2020. Kenya, a known transit country, reported no imports at all.
The report also said that South Sudan has recently become a transit hub for gold smuggled out of Sudan following the eruption of civil war there in 2023.
That gold is believed to be flown onward to Dubai, with involvement from the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces and elements of Uganda’s security services.
The UN Panel of Experts wrote that “gold had started entering South Sudan from Sudan” and that it was being shipped by air to the UAE in operations involving various armed actors.
Industrial gold mining does not yet exist in South Sudan. Poor infrastructure, decades of conflict, and a political environment described by observers as kleptocratic have deterred foreign investment.
The government allocated USD 65 million in 2023 for geological mapping in an effort to revive interest, but exploration remains limited.
According to one observer cited in the research, South Sudan’s political climate has “severely limited exploration activities and dissuaded international mining companies from investing in the country.”
SWISSAID concludes that South Sudan’s gold sector operates “largely outside the law,” driven by political interference, insecurity and corruption.
The organization went on to say the ongoing lack of reliable data, the report warns, makes meaningful oversight impossible and leaves the country losing millions of dollars in potential revenue every year.
The organization states bluntly: “South Sudan’s gold reserves are largely exploited through a system characterized by corruption, impunity, conflict and instability.” Continue reading “South Sudan’s gold trade almost entirely outside state control, report finds”
Experts welcome cybersecurity bill but warn against misuse
Two leading experts have welcomed South Sudan’s newly passed Cybersecurity and Computer Misuse Bill, describing it as an important first step toward regulating online behavior — but both warn that the law must be implemented responsibly to avoid political and rights abuse.
The Bill was passed into law, on Tuesday, pending the President’s signature.
Wani Stephen, a technology and intellectual property lawyer and Deputy Secretary General of the South Sudan Bar Association, said the bill provides a necessary legal foundation in an era where crimes increasingly occur online.
“This is not a perfect law. There is no perfect law — especially in the technological era,” he said.
“But at least this one is a basic ground. It’s like a foundation. If you want to build a house, you need to start from somewhere.”
Stephen said the law creates a platform for prosecuting those who misuse technology for profit or harm, including cyber fraud, incitement and other digital crimes. But he stressed that the most sensitive concern is political incitement, especially as the country prepares for elections next year.
“Do we want the Minister of Justice to go to his community and start inciting violence against another community? No South Sudanese in their common sense would say yes,” he said.
“If it’s incitement of violence, it is completely wrong and people should be prosecuted — whether they are politicians in government, in the bush or anywhere.”
Still, Stephen cautioned that with South Sudan at a delicate stage of political transition, the law’s safeguards must be respected. He cited Section 46, which requires investigators to seek a court order before conducting searches or seizures, as well as existing protections within the Criminal Procedure Act.
“This law does not operate in a vacuum,” he explained. “There are safeguards. If an investigator violates your rights, you can appeal from the police station all the way up to the minister of justice. We should not mix everything and push it on this law.”
He reiterated that both the legislation and those enforcing it are imperfect, making public oversight essential.
Concerns Over Cyberbullying, Misinformation
Recho Hakim, a technology expert and founder of GOGO Play — a platform promoting South Sudanese creative talent — also welcomed the bill, saying it may help curb the rising wave of online abuse, misinformation, and exploitative content.
“Finally, we can be able to control the Internet,” she said. “Our social media platforms have become more aggressive than educative. There is body shaming, cyberbullying, revenge pornography — people’s private videos suddenly appearing online. It is very risky for us as a community.”
Hakim said misinformation has damaged the country’s image abroad, with false narratives spreading faster than verified information.
“When you travel, people pick what they see online, but they don’t know that on the ground it’s different,” she said. “Finally we have the chance to control individuals online.”
She believes the law may encourage more responsible online communication and reduce insults disguised as political criticism.
“There will be fear at first, but people will start to control their content,” Hakim said. “The best part is you will not hear insults instead of criticism. Are you correcting me, or are you trying to emotionally spark anger and conflict?”
Hakim hopes the law will push young people and online creators toward professionalism.
“Once we think about the information we’re putting out — whether negative or positive — it will enable us to be more professional,” she said. “Right now, only a few keep professionalism.”
A step forward, but caution urged
Both experts agree the law is a meaningful step for South Sudan, where digital platforms have become increasingly influential. But they also share the view that the bill’s success will depend on fair implementation, public awareness and respect for existing legal safeguards.
“It’s a foundation,” Stephen said. “What we build on it — that will determine whether it protects citizens or becomes a tool for abuse.
SSOA factions call for inclusive talks to revitalize peace process
Two splinter groups within the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) have renewed calls for broader national dialogue and concrete action to address delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement (R-ARCSS), following a five-day consultative meeting in Juba.
A delegation led by Josephine Lagu acknowledged that the peace deal has encountered serious challenges but said the recent consultations created space for renewed political engagement.
According to SSOA spokesperson Moro Genesio, the group discussed solutions and developed a proposed agenda for the forthcoming national dialogue.
Speaking after the faction presented its position on Friday, Genesio underscored the need for an inclusive process.
“We all agreed that there are issues that have impeded the implementation of the agreement… We feel we should have an inclusive dialogue, including inviting those outside who may wish to join, so we can move the country forward together for peaceful elections.”
This faction emphasized that future talks should bring non-signatories into the fold, arguing that broader participation is essential for restoring national cohesion.
A parallel SSOA faction led by Hussein Abdelbagi also voiced concerns about the slow implementation of the peace deal, saying progress has been insufficient and requires urgent attention.
During the same consultations, SSOA representative and MP Clement Juma pointed to insecurity and internal divisions among key signatory parties, noting that these issues are worsening conditions in rural areas.
Juma said the release of detained political leaders is crucial to rebuilding trust and ensuring meaningful participation in the peace process.
“There is slow implementation of the peace agreement, and therefore we need concrete steps… For us to have peace back on track, we need to make sure these political leaders are released so they become part of the negotiation and we agree on the way forward.”
Although the two factions highlighted different approaches—one focusing on inclusive dialogue and the other on political detentions—both agreed that delays in implementing the R-ARCSS, combined with rising insecurity, pose ongoing challenges to the peace process.
The groups also expressed satisfaction with the overall political parties’ consultations, describing them as an important platform for moving discussions forward. Continue reading “SSOA factions call for inclusive talks to revitalize peace process”
Clearing agents suspend operations, stalling South Sudan cargo
Clearing and forwarding agents handling cargo destined for South Sudan at the Port of Mombasa have suspended their services, following reports of a new charge of 3,580 US dollars per container that they say appeared in a memo circulated on social media without any consultation.
The agents announced their work stoppage yesterday, arguing that the new fee was imposed abruptly and outside established diplomatic and commercial procedures.
Eye Radio can not independently verify the circulated memo.
However, speaking to Kenyan media in Mombasa, former KIFA chair Roi Mwanthi said stakeholders were blindsided by the circulated directive, which he stressed did not follow official channels.
“It is punitive, and the directive which was addressed through the social media violates existing diplomatic channels,” he said.
” And the existing single custom territory protocols demand that commissioners of any partner state must consult the commissioner of any nation if they want to introduce any levies or charges, so that consultation and public participation is undertaken.
Mwanti added that the importers buy the goods which are in containers and should not be considered as a separate commodity.
He further explained that the fee’s structure goes against established shipping procedures, saying, “Even if one pays a container deposit, that deposit is refundable once the empty container is returned to Mombasa. But this notice gives no provision for a refund. It simply adds to the cost of imported goods and increases the cost of doing business in the region, especially in South Sudan.”
According to him, it’s only South Sudan as opposed to other EAC member states that is violating the protocol.
He noted that the circulated directive also contradicts long-standing exemptions applied to shippers who purchase their own containers. “Shippers buy the container and the goods inside it. Such containers are exempted from any deposit. They are not supposed to be charged, harassed, or made to pay anything because the container belongs to them,” he said.
Mwanti accused South Sudanese authorities of going beyond their mandate, adding, “We are being told the government of South Sudan wants to collect 3,580 dollars from shippers on containers they do not own. That is not their business. Those containers belong to the importer.”
He stressed that governments operating through the Port of Mombasa must respect regional protocols. “First, they must follow diplomatic channels. Second, they must stop issuing memos through social media demanding that we pay this or that. We have repeated many times: we do not oppose South Sudan collecting taxes or levies, as long as they are collected at their borders—not from Mombasa.”
The protest comes despite an earlier official notice from the South Sudan Revenue Authority dated 17th November 2025, which abolished the long-standing 5,000-dollar container deposit fee.
In that notice, the SSRA clarified that the container deposit was removed to ease the burden on traders and strengthen regional cooperation. The authority also introduced a new requirement for a Maritime Container Release One-Time Password (OTP), a digital verification code that must be generated through the government e-portal before any cargo bound for South Sudan can be released.
The OTP requirement was presented as part of a broader effort to enhance transparency, track containers, and curb losses at regional ports.
However, clearing agents say the new 3,580-dollar charge circulating online is not part of the official SSRA directive, and its unclear origin has raised serious concern among shippers, transporters, and logistics companies operating along the Mombasa–Juba corridor.
Mwanti warned that the situation is disrupting operations, saying, “The main work of revenue authorities is trade facilitation, not trade sabotage. Until this notice is withdrawn or suspended, we are downing our tools. We are stopping the clearing and transport of containers or loose cargo destined for the Republic of South Sudan.”
Mr. Mwanthi is now urging both the Kenyan and South Sudanese authorities to clarify the situation urgently and formally engage stakeholders before any new fees are introduced.
