Escaping Nile floods to a minefield

Hundreds fleeing South Sudan violence reach Sudan

At least 1,700 people fleeing violence between armed factions in South Sudan's northern Upper Nile state have crossed into Sudan, the state-owned Sudanese news agency Suna has reported.

The UN agency Unicef had earlier said that violence between armed groups in Upper Nile state that started in August was forcing thousands of women and children to flee their homes amid reports of rising civilian deaths, injuries, and abductions.

The clashes have since spread to Jonglei and Unity states.

On Wednesday, the UN said that the violence had killed at least 166 people.

A member of Sudan's state-run Humanitarian Aid Commission, Salah Taaj al-Sir, told Suna that large numbers of South Sudanese fleeing the violence had arrived in the border state of White Nile.

He called on aid groups to provide urgent assistance to the refugees.

Fresh fighting displaces 40,000 in South Sudan - UN

Nearly 40,000 people have been displaced from their homes following renewed fighting in South Sudan’s oil-rich Upper Nile state, a UN agency has said.

In its latest update, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said threats of violence continue to hamper humanitarian response in the state.

It said the displaced people were living in dire conditions and required urgent life-saving assistance.

Last week ceasefire monitors said they would send a team to investigate the ongoing deadly clashes in the state.

Fighting has been reported in the state since state mid-November – reportedly involving the national army and the Maiwut opposition forces.

There are also reports of renewed hostilities in Fashoda area between different ethnic rival groups.

A prominent civil society group, the Community for Progress Organisation (CEPO), told the BBC that it received credible reports from civilians about armed youths amassing troops in the state over the weekend.

The BBC could not independently verify this information.

Ceasefire monitors to investigate South Sudan deadly clashes

Ceasefire monitors based in South Sudan, who are there to observe the implementation of the peace agreement, say they are sending delegates to investigate the ongoing deadly clashes in the northern oil-producing Upper Nile state.

Fighting has been going on in different areas of the state since mid-November – with reports of renewed clashes between the national army and the opposition forces in Maiwut area.

There have also been reports of renewed hostilities in Fashoda county between rival ethnic rival groups.

More than 9,100 people were forced from their homes following a recent surge in violence in the area, according to the UN's humanitarian office.

The ceasefire monitors have said they have received different reports about the situation affected by the conflict in Upper Nile.

Lt Gen Asrat Denero Amad, the Ethiopian who heads the monitoring team, said they will report back in the coming days.

Religious leaders call for an end to South Sudan clashes

Religious leaders in South Sudan are calling on parties to the conflict in the oil-producing Upper Nile State in the north of the country to implement a ceasefire amid escalating hostilities.

There are growing concerns that the renewed fighting might derail the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, which was signed in September 2018 to end a five-year civil war.

There are also fears that the fighting could cause a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

The ceasefire monitoring body says the violence began in mid-November when tensions started building up between rival groups.

Father Paolino Tipo Deng, chairman of the interdenominational Upper Nile Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation, said that heavy weaponry was being used by tribal youth in the ongoing hostilities.

“We pastors of different churches regret the tragic violent deaths and displacement of so many innocent people, especially women, children, and elderly caused by the tension in Upper Nile State," Fr. Tipo told reporters in the capital, Juba, on Thursday.

"At the same time, we condemn and reject such a senseless and unnecessary war amongst people of one nation who were supposed to be living in peace and harmony.”

He urged President Salva Kiir, First Vice-President, Riek Machar, and all parties to the peace agreement to take immediate action to stop the fighting in Upper Nile State.

‘I’ve been spat at in the face for the color of my skin’

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Video caption: Women's basketball: ‘I’ve been spat at in the face for the color of my skin women's basketball: ‘I’ve been spat at in the face for the color of my skin’

Sarah Chan has overcome racism and violence to become the first woman to manage African scouting for a team in the NBA, the world's top professional basketball league.'Continuous violence in South Sudan condemned

The humanitarian community in South Sudan has strongly condemned the ongoing violence in the oil-producing Upper Nile State in the northern part of the country.

They are calling for the hostilities to cease immediately in order to reduce human suffering and prevent further loss of innocent lives.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) reported on Wednesday that more than 9,100 people were displaced following the recent surge of violence in Fashoda County.

The renewed clashes between armed youths have also resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, abductions of women and children, and the destruction of properties and livelihoods, There were also reports of incidences of gender-based violence, Ocha said.

It did not provide details regarding casualties, but local media reported that countless numbers of people were killed in the renewed violence.

"The humanitarian community in South Sudan is appalled by the continuous violence that has a devastating impact on the lives and livelihoods of ordinary women, men, and children – those vulnerable who are already affected by the dire humanitarian situation in the country suffer most," said Peter Van der Auweraert, the UN Acting Humanitarian Coordinator in

Concern over renewed fighting in the region of South Sudan

The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), an umbrella group of 10 opposition political parties, has urged the government to urgently intervene and defuse the ongoing hostilities in the northern oil-producing Upper Nile state.

International ceasefire monitors based in the country, who are assessing the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, reported on Tuesday that there was "renewed fighting" between the national army and the opposition forces in Maiwut area.

The Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) also said there was renewed fighting reported in Fashoda area.

It did not provide details regarding casualties, but said “it was concerned that these incidents might pose a real threat to the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement”.

Local media reported that countless numbers were killed in the Fashoda clashes.

Brig-Gen Samuel Chan Mut, a senior representative of SSOA said, he feared that renewed fighting between the parties that are signatories to the revitalised peace agreement would impose "immense humanitarian challenges" and displacement of civilians.

Sudan military to sign deal on return to civilian rule

Sudanese protesters have been calling for a return to civilian ruleImage caption: Sudanese protesters have been calling for a return to civilian rule

Sudan’s former civilian ruling coalition and the military junta are expected to sign a framework agreement aimed at restoring a civilian-led democratic transition.

The agreement is also expected to end the political crisis triggered by a military coup in October 2021, local media has widely reported.

The Forces for Freedom and Change - Central Council (FFC-CC) says the agreement will end the military coup and establish a new constitution that will pave way for a final agreement on the transitional period in the country.

In a statement on Sunday, FFC-CC said the coalition's priorities were “issues of justice, the dismantling the structure of the 30 June 1989 regime, recovering public funds, security reforms, structuring and integrating forces, and defining their tasks in a civil democratic state, as well as achieving comprehensive and sustainable peace”.

The imminent deal has drawn opposition from pro-democracy groups led by the Sudanese Resistance Committees, who accuse the FFC-CC of agreeing to grant the military leaders immunity against prosecution once they hand over power.

The FFC-CC has denied these accusations. Some activist groups have called for major protests on Monday to reject the deal.

Ahead of the signing of the agreement, Sudanese authorities released a prominent politician, Wajdi Salih.

He was the head of the anti-corruption committee tasked with dismantling former president Omar al-Bashir's regime.

Pope to visit DR Congo and South Sudan next year

Catholic media has described the trips as "historic" Image caption: Catholic media has described the trips as "historic"

Pope Francis' trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan has been rescheduled for early next year, the Vatican has announced.

The pope will be visiting the two countries between 31 January and 5 February, according to a statement

from the Vatican.

He will be accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in South Sudan where he will spend the last two days of his trip, it said.

The pope’s trip to the two countries had initially been scheduled for July this year but was canceled because of his health problems.

He will be hosted by the presidents of the two states and will also meet bishops, other clergy, and members of the civil society in both countries. In South Sudan, he is also expected to meet internally displaced people.

Poor English worries South Sudan minister

A comment by South Sudan's higher education minister that most graduates from the country's universities had poor command of English, the nation's official language, has sparked a debate.

“If we cannot produce qualified students from our primary and secondary schools, then we have a problem. If you go to any of our universities, the standard is –very alarming – the English they speak are terrible because the foundation is not there," Gabriel Changson Chang was quoted as saying by the news site Voice of Juba.

Adelino Iyya Paterno, who heads the languages department at Starford International University of South Sudan, agreed with the minister, but suggested that he should call for a meeting with language lecturers from various universities in order "to find a remedy to this problem."

While others commenting online agreed with the minister's assessment they blamed poor regulation of the education sector which, they say, has failed to enforce higher and consistent standards.

The country's civil wars have also played a huge part in disrupting learning.

South Sudan urged to prosecute officials linked to rape

Yasmin Sooka said the incidents of gang rapes have been happening from 2013Image caption: Yasmin Sooka said the incidents of gang rapes have been happening from 2013

A UN panel of experts on human rights in South Sudan has called on the government to investigate and prosecute top officials for their alleged role in sexual violence.

It said the government should immediately remove from office and investigate state governors and county commissioners linked to systematic rape.

The panel made the call during the ongoing international conference on preventing sexual violence in conflict being hosted in London.

“Nowhere in the world do you find so many women who experience conflict by being repeatedly gang raped... while the men responsible are promoted and rewarded,” said Yasmin Sooka, the chairperson of the panel.

“This year we have seen the most dehumanizing sexual violence in South Sudan for which the government bears responsibility because of its failure over many years to hold individuals accountable,” said Prof Andrew Clapham, another member of the panel.

He singled out Unity state as among the areas most affected.

A delegation from the South Sudan government is also attending the conference. But they have not issued any official statement in response to the panel’s statement.

Millions in South Sudan will need food aid

Nearly 10 million people in South Sudan will need food aid in 2023, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).

Ocha says severe food insecurity will affect an estimated eight million people, or 64% of the 13 million population, by the peak of the lean season between April and July next year.

"A staggering 76% of South Sudan's population, will have humanitarian and or protection needs in 2023,” Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, said in a press release on Friday.

Ms. Nyanti stressed that the deteriorating humanitarian conditions are worsened by endemic violence, conflict, access constraints, operational interference, public health challenges, and climatic shocks such as flooding and localized drought.

South Sudan footballers banned for female referee assault

South Sudan's Wau Local Football Association (WLFA) has banned two Al-Hali FC team members from playing in the local league after they insulted and physically attacked a female referee during a match.

The prominent female referee in Wau, Sezarina Gabriel, who officiated the match between Al-Tadamun FC and Al-Hali FC on Sunday, was targeted after she warned the footballers over rough play and sent one of them off after repeated offenses.

Four other players from Al-Hali FC were also suspended for three years for openly uttering offensive and discriminatory words against the referee and for supporting their teammates who assaulted her.

Al-Hali FC head coach, Hassan Ali, was suspended from all sporting activities until he appears before a disciplinary committee. He was accused of urging his players to continue despite the attack.

The match ended in chaos.

WLFA secretary-general John Baptist Abakar said his association “maintains zero tolerance to all kinds of discrimination, unjust behavior, and misconduct” in the local league.

'I'm carrying twins and I've lost everything in floods'

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Video caption: South Sudan: The human cost of floods in South SudanSouth Sudan: The human cost of floods in South Sudan

The BBCs Mercy Juma traveled to South Sudan where hundreds of villages have been affected by the floods.

Two-thirds of South Sudan faces food crisis - UN

Malnutrition and food scarcity is now the worst it has ever been, agencies sayImage caption: Malnutrition and food scarcity is now the worst it has ever been, agencies say

About two-thirds of the South Sudanese population - some 7.7 million people - are likely to face acute food insecurity during between April and July next year, warns Unicef.

Along with the World Food Programme and the Food and Agricultural Organisation, Unicef says the number of people experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition in South Sudan is now the highest it has ever been.

The UN agencies say some communities are likely to face starvation if humanitarian assistance is not sustained and climate adaptation measures are not scaled up.

"South Sudan is on the frontline of the climate crisis and day in, day out families are losing their homes, cattle, fields, and hope to extreme weather," says Makena Walker, the acting WFP country director in South Sudan.

Conflict and the spiraling costs of food and fuel are also driving the hunger and malnutrition crisis in the oil-producing East African nation, UN agencies say.

More than a million hit by flooding in South Sudan - UN

Over one million people have been affected by flooding caused by torrential rains across South Sudan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), says.

Ocha said the ongoing flood response by its aid partners was being hampered by renewed violence, insecurity, and inaccessibility due to impassable roads.

Damaged infrastructure such as broken bridges and flooded airstrips have worsened the situation, along with a lack of funds.

An alert has been raised amid media reports that Uganda may open dams upstream on the White Nile river to relieve pressure there. If this water is released it is likely to worsen the situation in South Sudan, Ocha added.

The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, a government humanitarian agency, has deployed assessment teams to flood-affected areas across the country to gather more information about the disaster caused by flooding.

South Sudan violence causing death and destruction - official

Facebook/ Beny Gideon MaborCopyright: Facebook/ Beny Gideon Mabor

Beny Gideon Mabor described tensions as "worrisome" Image caption: Beny Gideon Mabor described tensions as "worrisome"

An official with the South Sudan Human Rights Commission has warned that large-scale inter-communal violence is "claiming lives" and "displacing hundreds of thousands and destroying their properties and livelihoods".

Beny Gideon Mabor made the comments in a statement delivered during a meeting of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, Gambia, on Sunday.

It marks the first statement from the South Sudan human rights body acknowledging the gravity of the ongoing violence in the country.

The statement also recognized that the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement which was signed in September 2018 to end five years of the conflict “remains slow”.

There was also a warning about how "communal violence threatens total breakdown of social fabric amongst and between ethnic groups with no history of violence between them.

“The Jieeng (Dinka) ethnic communities of Twic and Ngok of Bahr El-Ghazal region are attacking each other in scale and brutality never seen before. The Shilluk and Nuer ethnic groups in Upper Nile are also fighting each other, same as worrisome tensions between the Murle and the Jieeng in Jonglei State, respectively,” Mr. Gideon continued. He said this unprecedented surge in violence requires the swift deployment of the necessary unified forces to protect civilians and their properties.

Late month, a UN panel of experts on human rights in South Sudan said incidents of rape had become common in the country, and women who are victims were no longer bothering to report repeated sexual violence.

However, Mr. Gideon did not highlight sexual violence in his presentation.

South Sudan to expel Eritrean and Ethiopian migrants

South Sudan’s immigration body says it will deport more than 20 foreign nationals, mainly Eritreans and Ethiopians, who entered the country illegally.

They were arrested on arrival at Juba International Airport a few days ago and were said to have entered the country without passports or travel documents, local media reported.

The migrants had come from Sudan's capital Khartoum to seek refuge in South Sudan, and had boarded local flights to Juba from Bentiu and Paloch towns in northern South Sudan, an immigration official said.

Lt Gen Atem Marol Biar, the head of immigration at the interior ministry, said they would be deported to where they came from. He said they were arrested as they had neither traveling documents nor did they have connections with any organization operating in South Sudan.

“We cannot continue receiving people who don’t have documents from different countries. It will put our country at risk because we don’t know the reason why they don’t have travel documents,” local newspaper The Dawn quoted Lt Gen Biar as saying.

Local outlets said they were being detained at Kololo, a special immigration facility in Juba for foreign nationals, pending their deportation.

South Sudan is a destination for many migrants who come to do business in the oil-producing East African nation. But it finds it difficult to control the influx of illegal migrants due to its porous borders.

No South Sudan road funds for lack of rules - World Bank

South Sudanese journalistCopyright: South Sudanese journalist

South Sudan roads are "the worst" in the region image caption: South Sudan roads are "the worst" in the region

The World Bank says South Sudan cannot receive infrastructure funding from international investors due to a lack of financial policies and transport sector regulations.

The bank has placed conditions to be met before the country begins receiving funding for road infrastructure development.

A new study by an East African body, the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Co-ordination Authority (NCTTCA), has found that South Sudan’s roads are “the worst” in the region.

The roads became worse following recent torrential rains that made them impassable because of flash flooding and mud.

A delegation from the World Bank is in the capital, Juba, to discuss the possibility of supporting the country's road network connectivity.

They said for the bank to support South Sudan’s transport sector, the government needs to put in place clear institutional regulations and financial policies.

“It is about the diagnostics and framework not being in place and this is the stage that we are at, in our engagement with the government of South Sudan. It doesn’t make sense to start investing when you don’t have the rules in place.

"These are the things that South Sudan needs to tackle,” Bernard Aritua, a World Bank official told reporters in Juba.