Latest news with #JongleiState
Zawya
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Three-month-long vocational trainings give Jonglei youth hope of brighter future
Many young South Sudanese women and men are involuntarily idle and desperate for any opportunities to earn qualifications that may lead to gainful employment or enable them to start their own small businesses. In Akobo and Bor, in volatile Jonglei State, a significant number of them were given such chances, with the graduates of three-month-long vocational trainings in both towns determined to grab them with both hands. 'Everyone should plant vegetables. If you do, you gain good health and a possibility to earn money without subjecting yourself to the risks of assaults we women run when we collect firewood,' says Rodah Nyathuok Lual in Akobo. There, more than 100 youth, with the majority being women, have learnt income-generating skills like farming, tailoring, hairdressing, marketing and financial management. The initiative, funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and implemented by the national non-governmental organization Community Initiative for Development, is timely as resources in Akobo, following the return of many previously conflict-displaced persons, have become scarcer than usual. 'When we work, we become role models in our communities by promoting both development and peace. When everyone is busy, there is no time or room for conflict,' says Domach Makuach Mark, another proud owner of new and marketable skills who, like all graduates, was also given a starter kit and connected to banks and other lenders for possible investments. UN peacekeepers from South Korea have given 77 of Domach's peers in Bor reason to be equally optimistic about their futures. In the state capital, they have learnt everything from wiring a building safely and repairing a leaking pipe to cultivating food and raising poultry. 'From now on, I hope people will buy eggs and chickens from me,' says Akuoch Mary Atem as she details her plan to open a poultry farm to support herself and her family. More young, aspiring women and men in and around Bor are likely to benefit from similar opportunities in the future. 'In cooperation with the government, we hope that we'll be able to expand our vocational school,' says Colonel Kwon Byung Guk, Commander of the South Korean contingent, who also revealed that his government will provide five top students with full scholarships for advanced studies in the East Asian country. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Washington Post
03-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Civilian casualties mount in South Sudan amid fighting between army and local militias
AKOBO, South Sudan — Wiyuach Makuach sat on her bed in a dimly lit ward of a hospital near South Sudan's border with Ethiopia and rested her remaining arm in her lap as she recalled the airstrike that took her other arm and nearly killed her. 'Everything was on fire,' she said in an interview at the hospital in the border town of Akobo where she was being treated for her injuries. The bombing happened on May 3 at another hospital in the northern community of Fangak where she had traveled to be with her 25-year-old son while he sought treatment for tuberculosis. A series of strikes there, including several at the Doctors Without Borders facility, killed seven people. 'I ran outside and started rubbing mud on myself to stop the burning,' Makuach said. Makuach, 60, is just one of the dozens of civilians who aid groups say have been killed or badly injured by airstrikes in recent weeks as South Sudan's army clashes with militia groups across the country. The army says it targets only combatants, and has not commented on civilian casualties. 'The army displaced us and our families into the bush and that's when we decided we would fight back,' said Gatkuoth Wie, 24, who was wounded while fighting in northern Jonglei State. The fighting has led to U.N. warnings that South Sudan is again on the brink of civil war . Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to send to South Sudan a group of eight deportees from Cuba, Vietnam and elsewhere who have been convicted in the U.S. of serious crimes, sparking a legal fight that has reached the Supreme Court. Many of those wounded in the South Sudan clashes have been transported to Akobo, where the International Committee for the Red Cross has set up a temporary surgical response. Others have been stranded for days by the fighting. Doctor Bjarte Andersen, a surgeon working with the ICRC, says that the fighting has made it difficult to transport patients that have been critically wounded. 'We know of one person who has died waiting for transportation, but there are probably more,' he said. 'The most critical cases cannot even be moved, they are not likely to survive the journey,' said Christina Bartulec, who oversees the organization's medical operation in Akobo. The ICRC does not track which patients are combatants and which are civilians. Most of the people brought to their facility are young men, several of whom told The Associated Press that they were engaged in fighting. In the past month, however, an increasing number of the victims have been women and a few children, according to hospital staff. One is Kuaynin Bol, 15, who was gravely injured by a blast as he lay asleep in his home. Surgeons have removed bone fragments from his brain and performed four operations on his leg, which was badly broken. Simmering tensions between the government and opposition groups erupted in March when a local militia called the White Army overran a military barracks in Nasir, a town in the country's northeast. The government pinned responsibility for the attack on First Vice President Riek Machar, placing him under house arrest and detaining other members of his SPLM-IO party. It also brought in Ugandan forces to support a sweeping military offensive against opposition troops and community militias across the country. That offensive centered on Upper Nile State and allegedly involved use of improvised incendiary weapons that Human Rights Watch has said killed at least 58 people, including children. In May, the fighting spread to northern Jonglei State where Fangak is located, a region previously unaffected by the violence, after the government alleged several barges were hijacked by opposition forces there. Isaac Pariel, a member of Machar's opposition party who is the local chairman in Fangak of the government's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, said that at least 25 civilians have been killed this month. But the true toll is likely higher, as much of the fighting has taken place in remote areas that are inaccessible to medical workers. One bombardment in the village of Wichmon on May 15 killed 12 people including 8 children, according to local authorities and one eyewitness. The Associated Press was unable to independently verify those figures. The government has not officially claimed responsibility for the strikes. Army spokesman General Lul Ruai Koang told The Associated Press he was not authorized to comment on 'ongoing military operations across the country.' The violence has been devastating for civilians already reeling from successive humanitarian crises. Much of the fighting has taken place in South Sudan's Greater Upper Nile region, a vast floodplain that in recent years has been ravaged by extreme weather, disease, and severe food insecurity. 'The people here are moving all the time, just during the night,' said William Nyuon, a Fangak resident. 'They fear the plane will come and bomb them again.' ___ For more on Africa and development: ___ The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Civilian casualties mount in South Sudan amid fighting between army and local militias
AKOBO, South Sudan (AP) — Wiyuach Makuach sat on her bed in a dimly lit ward of a hospital near South Sudan's border with Ethiopia and rested her remaining arm in her lap as she recalled the airstrike that took her other arm and nearly killed her. 'Everything was on fire,' she said in an interview at the hospital in the border town of Akobo where she was being treated for her injuries. The bombing happened on May 3 at another hospital in the northern community of Fangak where she had traveled to be with her 25-year-old son while he sought treatment for tuberculosis. A series of strikes there, including several at the Doctors Without Borders facility, killed seven people. 'I ran outside and started rubbing mud on myself to stop the burning,' Makuach said. Makuach, 60, is just one of the dozens of civilians who aid groups say have been killed or badly injured by airstrikes in recent weeks as South Sudan's army clashes with militia groups across the country. The army says it targets only combatants, and has not commented on civilian casualties. 'The army displaced us and our families into the bush and that's when we decided we would fight back,' said Gatkuoth Wie, 24, who was wounded while fighting in northern Jonglei State. The fighting has led to U.N. warnings that South Sudan is again on the brink of civil war. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to send to South Sudan a group of eight deportees from Cuba, Vietnam and elsewhere who have been convicted in the U.S. of serious crimes, sparking a legal fight that has reached the Supreme Court. Many of those wounded in the South Sudan clashes have been transported to Akobo, where the International Committee for the Red Cross has set up a temporary surgical response. Others have been stranded for days by the fighting. Doctor Bjarte Andersen, a surgeon working with the ICRC, says that the fighting has made it difficult to transport patients that have been critically wounded. 'We know of one person who has died waiting for transportation, but there are probably more,' he said. 'The most critical cases cannot even be moved, they are not likely to survive the journey,' said Christina Bartulec, who oversees the organization's medical operation in Akobo. The ICRC does not track which patients are combatants and which are civilians. Most of the people brought to their facility are young men, several of whom told The Associated Press that they were engaged in fighting. In the past month, however, an increasing number of the victims have been women and a few children, according to hospital staff. One is Kuaynin Bol, 15, who was gravely injured by a blast as he lay asleep in his home. Surgeons have removed bone fragments from his brain and performed four operations on his leg, which was badly broken. Simmering tensions between the government and opposition groups erupted in March when a local militia called the White Army overran a military barracks in Nasir, a town in the country's northeast. The government pinned responsibility for the attack on First Vice President Riek Machar, placing him under house arrest and detaining other members of his SPLM-IO party. It also brought in Ugandan forces to support a sweeping military offensive against opposition troops and community militias across the country. That offensive centered on Upper Nile State and allegedly involved use of improvised incendiary weapons that Human Rights Watch has said killed at least 58 people, including children. In May, the fighting spread to northern Jonglei State where Fangak is located, a region previously unaffected by the violence, after the government alleged several barges were hijacked by opposition forces there. Isaac Pariel, a member of Machar's opposition party who is the local chairman in Fangak of the government's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, said that at least 25 civilians have been killed this month. But the true toll is likely higher, as much of the fighting has taken place in remote areas that are inaccessible to medical workers. One bombardment in the village of Wichmon on May 15 killed 12 people including 8 children, according to local authorities and one eyewitness. The Associated Press was unable to independently verify those figures. The government has not officially claimed responsibility for the strikes. Army spokesman General Lul Ruai Koang told The Associated Press he was not authorized to comment on 'ongoing military operations across the country.' The violence has been devastating for civilians already reeling from successive humanitarian crises. Much of the fighting has taken place in South Sudan's Greater Upper Nile region, a vast floodplain that in recent years has been ravaged by extreme weather, disease, and severe food insecurity. 'The people here are moving all the time, just during the night,' said William Nyuon, a Fangak resident. 'They fear the plane will come and bomb them again.' ___ For more on Africa and development: ___ The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Zawya
30-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
United for Peace: United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers Day commemoration promotes shared desire for unity in South Sudan
'For very long time, we have been waiting for peace. With peace, there will be no more war. The time for change is here now,' crooned prominent South Sudanese reggae singer, WJ De King and fellow artist Irene Toss. Their electrifying performance brought hundreds of people to their feet, singing and dancing together, at the flagship event commemorating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeeping in Bor, Jonglei State. 'Peace begins with self-love, with self-reliance. Peace begins with celebrating diversity and embracing unity.' The dynamic duo embraced the theme for the day by launching a new song, commissioned by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, as part of a campaign to promote peace in the world's youngest country, under the theme 'Peace Begins with Me'. The campaign calls on every individual to take action, no matter how small, to contribute to a powerful, collective movement for peace. It also recognizes the persistence and unwavering commitment of the people of South Sudan to end conflict and secure sustainable peace and democracy. 'This event means a lot as coming together is the only way forward. If there is music, there is peace,' stressed WJ De King, who is also renown for being a peace activist. The event, held at the Jonglei State Secretariat, was all about engagement and inclusion, with participants including women's groups, children from a variety of schools, government officials, and UNMISS peacekeepers. 'Today is the day to make friendships. Make sure you don't go home without making a friend,' was the first thing people heard when entering the location, from young community mobilizer and writer, Mnyok Akech Atem, who seized the opportunity to promote the change he would like to see in his country. By giving space to different communities, the commemoration ceremony celebrated diversity and encouraged participants to embrace unity by resolving grievances, promoting reconciliation, and working together to implement locally led peace processes. 'It is our responsibility to foster mindsets and actions that will contribute to sustainable long-term peace in this country,' said the Guest of Honor, Jonglei State Deputy Governor, Matiop Lueth Atem. 'The UNMISS peacekeepers have been leading by example, and we want you to know that we, and the world beyond our nation's borders, see your sacrifice for the service to others.' UNMISS Head of Bor Field Office, Geeta Pious, stressed the mission's commitment to supporting South Sudan as it navigates the difficult journey from war to peace. She highlighted the contribution being made by peacekeepers in Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to protect civilians, deter violence, build critical infrastructure, and even help revolutionize the agricultural sector to encourage economic growth. For once, during the notorious rainy season, the weather was kind with the sun shining down on those gathered to celebrate the day, while it was noted that, at the same time, UNMISS peacekeepers were tirelessly labouring to drain water from areas hit by severe flooding, including the event venue, earlier in the week. It was the perfect conditions for hosting a wide variety of performances by Indian, Ethiopian, South Korean and Sri Lankan peacekeepers as well as the Nuer, Dinka and Anyuak communities. As event moderator UNMISS' Mach Samuel put it: 'It's like watching the world live'! 'The fact that so many local communities came here and showed their appreciation with their performances really made us feel the significance and impact of our work here,' shared UNMISS engineering peacekeeper, Captain Sylvia Nzila. At the end of the day, there was a sense that change is possible. Even after the event was officially concluded, participants from all communities stayed to exchange hugs, contact details, and share their feelings. The outcome demonstrates that peacekeeping is more than just protecting civilians, it is about building trust and confidence in support of sustainable peace, so that the people of South Sudan can secure the brighter future that they deserve. It illustrates that peace really does begin with me, you and all of us. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South Sudan should ‘pull back from the brink': UN
The United Nations rights chief urged on Friday for warring sides in South Sudan to pull back from the brink, warning that the human rights situation risks further deterioration as fighting intensifies. 'The escalating hostilities in South Sudan portend a real risk of further exacerbating the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation, and undermining the country's fragile peace process,' said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. 'All parties must urgently pull back from the brink,' he added. South Sudan, the world's youngest country after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, was plunged into a violent civil war between 2013 and 2018 that claimed around 400,000 lives. A power-sharing agreement between the warring parties provided a fragile calm, but it has all but collapsed as violent clashes have broken out between forces allied to President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar, who was put under house arrest in March. Since May 3 fighting has intensified, with the UN citing reports of indiscriminate aerial bombardments and river and ground offensives by the South Sudan People's Defence Forces on Sudan People's Liberation Army positions in parts of Fangak in Jonglei State and in Tonga County in Upper Nile.
