JUBA, July 22, 2026 — Contrary to earlier remarks by a Central Equatoria State official that the driver of a passenger bus had died after an ambush along the Juba–Bor Highway, Eco Bus Company says the driver sustained gunshot injuries and was receiving medical treatment.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Eco Bus said one of its buses was attacked near Mongiri along the Juba–Bor Highway, but all passengers were safe.

The company said three passengers sustained minor injuries caused by shattered window glass during the attack and received medical assistance.

“During the incident, our driver sustained a gunshot injury and is receiving medical attention currently. We are grateful to report that all passengers are safe,” the statement said.

The company added that the attackers took passengers’ cash, mobile phones and other personal belongings before fleeing the scene.

Earlier, Central Equatoria State Minister of Information Patrick Nyarsuk told Eye Radio that the bus was attacked in Bilinyang Boma of Juba County at about 10:30 a.m., and that the driver had died after being shot.

Nyarsuk said authorities were working to identify those behind the attack. Eco Bus said it was working with security authorities and providing support to the driver and affected passengers. Continue reading “Eco Bus says driver injured, passengers safe after Juba–Bor highway attack”

JUBA, July 22, 2026 — The fourth accused in the Nasir incident trial on Wednesday denied allegations that the SPLA-IO was involved in the clashes between local youth and government forces in Nasir County.

Lt. Gen. Duop Lam, the Acting Chief of General Staff of the SPLA-IO, made the remarks while continuing his defence before the Special Court during its 99th session in Juba.

Duop told the court the clashes were driven by socio-economic factors and relations between civilians and the military, and were not politically motivated.

He said no SPLA-IO commander at the strategic, operational or tactical level ordered or planned military operations in Nasir.

Duop also described the arrest of SPLM/A-IO leaders by government security agencies as a “coup” against the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.

He told the court the SPLA-IO leadership returned to Juba without personal protection as a demonstration of its commitment to the peace agreement.

During his testimony, Duop said the government had not applied accountability consistently in other deadly incidents, citing violence in Leer County in Unity State and the Rual Bet incident in Tonj North County, Warrap State.

He also told the court that the SPLA-IO had participated in efforts to de-escalate tensions in Nasir following clashes in 2024 by deploying a 750-member force to separate local youth and SSPDF troops.

According to his testimony, the deployment was coordinated with SSPDF headquarters, the Nasir garrison commander and the county commissioner, and the force later withdrew after the security situation improved.

Duop further alleged that former SSPDF Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Paul Nang failed to support decisions by the Joint Defence Board to deploy the Necessary Unified Forces to Nasir and rejected proposals to replace long-serving SSPDF troops in the area.

He also alleged that Gen. Nang later ordered a battalion of the Necessary Unified Forces to move to Malakal as part of preparations for a military movement toward Nasir.

The presiding judge later interrupted the defence statement and adjourned the trial until Friday, July 24. Continue reading “Nasir trial: Fourth accused denies SPLA-IO role in clashes”

JUBA, July 21, 2026 — The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of South Sudan have launched a US$41.8 million project aimed at improving food security, strengthening climate resilience and supporting rural livelihoods across the country.

The Sustainable Agriculture Development Project (SADEP) is expected to benefit more than 110,000 people by increasing agricultural productivity, strengthening resilience to climate shocks and improving access to markets and agricultural services.

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, IFAD Country Director in South Sudan Caroline Mwongera said the project is intended to support climate-resilient food systems and rural livelihoods in a country affected by conflict and climate-related challenges.

“SADEP advances climate-resilient food systems, strengthens livelihoods in fragile settings, and places rural communities at the centre. In a context like South Sudan, sustained and predictable financing is essential to translate these gains into long-term stability and food security,” Mwongera said.

According to IFAD, the project will focus on developing sustainable sorghum and fisheries value chains, reducing post-harvest losses and expanding access to finance, markets and agricultural extension services.

The initiative will also support the rehabilitation of fisheries infrastructure, including ice plants, landing sites and storage facilities, as South Sudan works toward increasing fish production.

The project will target areas with high levels of poverty and vulnerability, with women, young people and other vulnerable groups identified as priority beneficiaries through a community-driven approach.

IFAD said about 18,700 households will receive support to improve nutrition through the distribution of nutrient-rich crops and activities aimed at strengthening natural resource management.

The project will also support technical training in seed production and fish handling, strengthen national and local institutions, and contribute to the development of policies intended to improve climate resilience and agricultural productivity.

Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Onyoti Adigo Nyikwec said the initiative supports the government’s efforts to strengthen food production and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance.

“This project advances our national priorities to transition from humanitarian dependence to resilient and productive food systems. In partnership with IFAD, SADEP will empower farmers, fishers, women, and youth to strengthen livelihoods, with a clear commitment to scale results nationwide,” Nyikwec said.

The project is co-financed by the Global Environment Facility with US$8.9 million through the Strengthening Adaptation through Institutional Building and Resilient Livelihoods in South Sudanese Agro-pastoral Landscapes (SABRELA) project.

It will be implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the International Fertilizer Development Center and Welthungerhilfe. Continue reading “IFAD, South Sudan launch US$41.8 million project to strengthen food security”

The national government has said Capital Pay will continue operating in the country’s digital revenue collection system as authorities introduce a cash-based payment arrangement aimed at addressing a shortage of physical currency.

The announcement followed a meeting of the Ministerial High-Level Committee for Economic Reforms with representatives from the Bank of South Sudan, the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA), and 13 commercial banks involved in collecting government revenue.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister of Public Service and Human Resource Development Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, who is also acting rapporteur of the committee, said businesses conducting transactions in South Sudan would be required to pay taxes in cash, including at border points where goods are cleared.

He said commercial banks collecting revenue on behalf of the SSRA would also be required to remit funds in cash to the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

Despite the shift toward cash payments, Gatkuoth said Capital Pay would continue supporting digital revenue collection by recording transactions through its system.

“Capital Pay will continue to be collecting, but they will be paying cash and they will actually enter this into the system,” Gatkuoth said.

The minister praised Capital Pay’s contribution to digital transformation, saying the move to digital revenue collection had contributed to increased revenue collection.

“Since we have started collecting digitally, the increase of revenue has gone up,” he said.

The government said the new cash-payment directive is intended to increase the availability of physical cash in circulation as authorities work to address a liquidity crisis and ensure the payment of public servants’ salaries.

Under the new directive, all 13 commercial banks collecting revenue for the SSRA are expected to comply with the requirement to collect and remit funds in cash. Gatkuoth warned that action would be taken against institutions that fail to implement the decision.

The government said the measures are part of wider economic reforms aimed at improving revenue management and addressing challenges affecting the country’s financial system. Continue reading “Capital Pay to continue digital revenue collection under new cash payment directive”

Police in Western Bahr el Ghazal State have urged residents to collect their processed Nationality Certificates, warning that thousands of documents remain unclaimed.

The Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passports and Immigration (DCRNPI) said it has received 7,372 newly processed Nationality Certificates for distribution.

Speaking to the local media on Tuesday, the State Director of DCRNPI, Brigadier General Achien Yor Jok, called on residents of Wau, Jur River and Raja counties to visit the directorate and collect their certificates.

Brig. Gen. Achien said the office is facing a growing backlog because many applicants have failed to claim their documents.

He disclosed that more than 10,000 Nationality Certificates issued since 2013 remain uncollected and appealed to citizens to collect their documents as soon as possible to ease the backlog. Continue reading “WBGs police urge residents to collect 10,000 unclaimed nationality certificates”