South Sudan

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JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan’s hunger is growing, despite 5 months of peace

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Five months into South Sudan’s fragile peace, 1.5 million people are on the brink of starvation and half the population, more than six million people, are facing extreme hunger, say the United Nations and South Sudan’s government in a report issued Friday. Without aid more than 7.5 million people will … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan’s hunger is growing, despite 5 months of peace →

Politics

United States | Joint Statement on Escalating Conflict in South Sudan

United States – The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the Governments of the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom. The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are alarmed about the escalating conflict around Yei, which represents a flagrant breach of the December 2017 Cessation … Continue reading United States | Joint Statement on Escalating Conflict in South Sudan →

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United States | The United States Sanctions Three Individuals for Threatening Peace in South Sudan

United States – Today, the United States imposed sanctions on three individuals for their roles in the conflict in South Sudan. Israel Ziv and Obac William Olawo were designated by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) for being leaders of entities whose actions expanded or extend the conflict in South Sudan. … Continue reading United States | The United States Sanctions Three Individuals for Threatening Peace in South Sudan →

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NHIALDIU, South Sudan | At scene of South Sudan mass rape, ‘no one could hear me’

NHIALDIU, South Sudan — Shock and outrage followed when Doctors Without Borders announced that 125 women and girls in South Sudan had been raped, whipped and clubbed last month in a dramatic spike in sexual violence. In an exclusive look at the aftermath, The Associated Press joined a United Nations peacekeeping patrol where the attacks … Continue reading NHIALDIU, South Sudan | At scene of South Sudan mass rape, ‘no one could hear me’ →

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JUBA, South Sudan | 125 women, girls raped, whipped and clubbed in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — One hundred and twenty-five women and girls have been raped, whipped and clubbed in attacks so shocking that some aid workers in South Sudan say they are left speechless. Doctors Without Borders on Saturday said the “dramatic increase” in sexual violence occurred over 10 days, between Nov. 19 and Thursday, as … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | 125 women, girls raped, whipped and clubbed in South Sudan →

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JOHANNESBURG | Uganda diverted weapons to South Sudan despite arms embargo

JOHANNESBURG  — A key broker of the latest deal to end South Sudan’s civil war diverted European weapons to South Sudan’s military despite an EU arms embargo, a new report says. It also asks how a U.S. military jet ended up deployed in South Sudan in possible violation of arms export controls. The London-based Conflict … Continue reading JOHANNESBURG | Uganda diverted weapons to South Sudan despite arms embargo →

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JUBA, South Sudan | Report says nearly 400,000 ‘excess deaths’ in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — A new report estimates that South Sudan’s civil war has caused nearly 400,000 “excess deaths” since fighting erupted in late 2013. The report funded by the U.S. State Department and issued by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine estimates that violence caused about half of those 382,900 deaths. For … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | Report says nearly 400,000 ‘excess deaths’ in South Sudan →

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JUBA, South Sudan | UN condemns ‘direct attack’ on peacekeepers in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — The United Nations is condemning a “direct attack” on its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan after a government soldier shot and wounded a Nepalese peacekeeper. The shooting on Saturday comes three days after South Sudan’s warring sides signed a peace deal to end the civil war. The U.N. statement says the … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | UN condemns ‘direct attack’ on peacekeepers in South Sudan →

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JUBA, South Sudan | Fighting breaks out in South Sudan 2 days after peace deal

JUBA, South Sudan — Fighting has broken out in South Sudan two days after the warring sides signed what the government called a “final final” peace agreement to end the civil war. Each side blames the other for the attacks. Clashes erupted Friday morning in Central Equatoria state when government troops stormed bases in Lainya … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | Fighting breaks out in South Sudan 2 days after peace deal →

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JUBA, South Sudan | 18 dead as plane crashes into lake in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — A commercial plane crashed into a lake in South Sudan on Sunday and killed 18 people, a local official said. The 19-seater commercial Baby Air plane had been traveling from the capital, Juba, the minister of information for the town of Yirol, Taban Abel Aguek, told The Associated Press. Officials were … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | 18 dead as plane crashes into lake in South Sudan →

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JUBA, South Sudan | 21 dead as plane crashes into lake in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — An overloaded commercial plane crashed into a lake in South Sudan on Sunday and killed 21 people, a local official said. The 19-seater commercial Baby Air plane had been traveling from the capital, Juba, the minister of information for the town of Yirol, Taban Abel Aguek, told The Associated Press. Officials … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | 21 dead as plane crashes into lake in South Sudan →

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JUBA, South Sudan | 17 dead as plane crashes into lake in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — A local official says 17 people are dead after their aircraft crashed into a lake in South Sudan. The minister of information for the town of Yirol, Taban Abel Aguek, tells The Associated Press that the 19-seater commercial Baby Air plane had been traveling from the capital, Juba. Officials are investigating … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | 17 dead as plane crashes into lake in South Sudan →

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JUBA, South Sudan | Verdict due for South Sudan soldiers accused of murder, rape

JUBA, South Sudan  — The verdict and sentencing for 11 South Sudan soldiers accused of gang raping foreign aid workers and murdering a local journalist during the country’s five-year civil war will be announced Thursday and could include the death penalty. An investigation by the Associated Press in 2016 revealed that dozens of soldiers broke … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | Verdict due for South Sudan soldiers accused of murder, rape →

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JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan accused of killings, torture, squalor in jails

JUBA, South Sudan  — Amnesty International says hundreds of people detained in South Sudan have faced abusive treatment, torture and even death at the hands of authorities since the country’s civil war began in late 2013. According to the Amnesty report, at least 20 people died in detention between 2014 and 2016 and four died … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan accused of killings, torture, squalor in jails →

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JUBA, South Sudan | Oil-rich South Sudan to resume production in war-hit region

JUBA, South Sudan  — Emboldened by a new peace deal, civil war-torn South Sudan says it will resume oil production in a key region next month to make up for more than $4 billion of revenue lost during years of fighting. South Sudan, with Africa’s third-largest oil reserves, will renew drilling in northern Unity State … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | Oil-rich South Sudan to resume production in war-hit region →

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JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan’s opposition refuses to sign final peace deal

JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan’s opposition parties have rejected what was supposed to be the final version of the peace agreement with the government, threatening to destabilize an already fragile process. On Tuesday, opposition leader and former Vice President Riek Machar and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, the umbrella group for the splintered opposition … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan’s opposition refuses to sign final peace deal →

Politics

U.S. Department of State News: Troika Statement on South Sudan Peace Talks

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of State released the following statement: The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Norway. The members of the Troika (the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway) support the engagement of the region in the recent … Continue reading U.S. Department of State News: Troika Statement on South Sudan Peace Talks →

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LONDON | Global slavery report slams North Korea, repressive regimes

LONDON — Modern slavery is most prevalent in North Korea and other repressive regimes, but developed nations also bear responsibility for it because they import $350 billion worth of goods that are produced under suspicious circumstances, according to research released Thursday. The Global Slavery Index estimates that 40.3 million people worldwide were subjected to modern … Continue reading LONDON | Global slavery report slams North Korea, repressive regimes →

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BARCELONA, Spain | South Sudan lawmakers extend president’s term until 2021

BARCELONA, Spain  — South Sudan’s parliament on Thursday approved extending President Salva Kiir’s term until 2021, angering the armed opposition and threatening already fragile peace talks in a five-year civil war. The president is expected to sign the extension Thursday or Friday after parliament met in extraordinary session, lawmaker Atem Garang told The Associated Press. … Continue reading BARCELONA, Spain | South Sudan lawmakers extend president’s term until 2021 →

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JOHANNESBURG | Gang-rapes, lynchings: UN tallies latest South Sudan abuses

JOHANNESBURG — A new United Nations report says South Sudan government troops and allied fighters killed at least 232 civilians in a five-week period this year, with some victims hung from trees and others burned alive. The U.N. report released Tuesday is the latest snapshot of the widespread atrocities committed in the world’s youngest nation … Continue reading JOHANNESBURG | Gang-rapes, lynchings: UN tallies latest South Sudan abuses →

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United Nations News: South Sudan, ‘Horrific acts’ by government may constitute ‘war crimes’ says UN, demanding justice

UNITED NATIONS – The UN human rights office, OHCHR, issued a report on Tuesday, noting the “deliberate…and brutally violent” targeting of civilians, particularly women and children, in April and May. According to the report, at least 120 women and girls were raped and those unable to flee were killed as part of a deliberate “scorched … Continue reading United Nations News: South Sudan, ‘Horrific acts’ by government may constitute ‘war crimes’ says UN, demanding justice →

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U.S. Department of State News: South Sudan National Day

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of State today released the following statement: On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, we extend our best wishes to the people of the Republic of South Sudan on the seventh anniversary of their nation’s independence. This should be a day of celebration marking South Sudan’s emergence … Continue reading U.S. Department of State News: South Sudan National Day →

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DUBLIN  | South Sudan’s latest cease-fire is violated within hours

DUBLIN — South Sudan government troops violated the country’s latest cease-fire just hours after it began at midnight, the armed opposition claimed Saturday, while a government spokesman accused the rebels of attacking instead. The competing claims indicated a shaky start to the latest attempt at ending a devastating five-year civil war that has killed tens … Continue reading DUBLIN  | South Sudan’s latest cease-fire is violated within hours →

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JUBA, South Sudan | In South Sudan, actress Ashley Judd brings spirit of #MeToo

JUBA, South Sudan — In her first visit to civil war-torn South Sudan, actress Ashley Judd had a message for survivors of sexual assault in a country where rape is a widespread weapon. “I see you, I love you and I’m here for you,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press. Seated on … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | In South Sudan, actress Ashley Judd brings spirit of #MeToo →

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U.S. Department of State News: South Sudan: Travel Advisory Remains Level 4 – Do Not Travel

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of State today released the following statement: The Department of State renewed its Travel Advisory for South Sudan on June 28, 2018.  The Department continues to advise travelers to not travel to South Sudan.  This replaces the previous Travel Advisory issued on January 10, 2018. The full text of the new … Continue reading U.S. Department of State News: South Sudan: Travel Advisory Remains Level 4 – Do Not Travel →

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JUBA, South Sudan | UN peacekeeper from Bangladesh killed in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — A United Nations peacekeeper was killed on Tuesday in South Sudan when a U.N. convoy was attacked. Lieutenant Commander Ashraf Siddiqui from Bangladesh was part of a convoy protecting humanitarian workers traveling from Yei to Lasu in Central Equatoria province. Shots were fired by a group of unknown gunmen and … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | UN peacekeeper from Bangladesh killed in South Sudan →

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JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan’s rival leaders meeting again in Sudan for talks

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan President Salva Kiir met again with rival Riek Machar on Monday in neighboring Sudan amid fragile efforts to end their country’s five-year civil war, while the new U.S. ambassador to Juba told The Associated Press the U.S. is skeptical of the latest talks. The meeting mediated by Sudan’s … Continue reading JUBA, South Sudan | South Sudan’s rival leaders meeting again in Sudan for talks →

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia  | South Sudan peace deal attempt fails as Kiir rejects Machar

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia  — The latest attempt at ending South Sudan’s civil war has failed as President Salva Kiir rejects working again with rival Riek Machar after their first face-to-face meeting in almost two years. Government spokesman Michael Makuei says “this is simply because we have had enough of him.” The rivals met this week … Continue reading ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia  | South Sudan peace deal attempt fails as Kiir rejects Machar →