Kampala, Uganda | AMY FALLON| devex.com| As a former refugee in Kenya, Musa Francis Ecweru often reflects on the generosity of his once-host nation. Today, as Uganda’s state minister for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, he sits on the other side of the table, managing his country’s reception in the world’s fastest …
Read More »Pope sends funds to hunger-struck S.Sudan
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis is supporting a series of aid projects in South Sudan, the Vatican said Wednesday, sending money in his place after a trip to the war-torn country was ruled out. The Vatican will donate 462,000 euros ($515,000), which will be divided among …
Read More »Full stalls, empty markets as South Sudan’s economy crumbles
Aweil, South Sudan | AFP | “I sell the small bottle of cooking oil for 140 SSP. Six months ago, it was 70. The customers complain,” said James Deng, an 18-year-old stallholder in Aweil, South Sudan. In this regional market in the country’s northwest — just as at the main …
Read More »UN: Withdrawal of UPDF has left a vacuum in Central Africa
UN envoy fears ‘security vacuum’ in central Africa after Uganda withdraws United Nations, United States | AFP | The United Nations said Tuesday it feared a “security vacuum” in central Africa after the withdrawal of Ugandan, South Sudanese and US troops formerly tracking Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony. One …
Read More »IGAD hails Salva Kiir, but asks him to control his army commanders
The IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government has supported President Salva Kiir’s decision to launch a national dialogue, but said the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) remains the only viable way to fully resolving conflict in the country. The IGAD leaders welcomed the recent declaration …
Read More »Museveni in Addis for IGAD summit
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia| PPU| President Yoweri Museveni has held a meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Addis Ababa. The meeting took place this afternoon shortly before the official starting of the 31st Extraordinary Summit of the Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) Heads of State. The summit will …
Read More »Troops loyal to Machar say they carried out deadly road ambush
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | South Sudanese rebels on Friday claimed responsibility for an ambush that killed at least 15 people on the main road between the capital and the Ugandan border. In a statement, Lam Paul Gabriel, spokesman for the SPLA-IO rebel group led by exiled former vice …
Read More »At least 15 killed in latest South Sudan road ambush
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | Unknown gunmen on Thursday ambushed a convoy on the main road connecting South Sudan’s capital with the Ugandan border, killing at least 15 people, officials said. Nine others were wounded in the attack on a civilian convoy escorted by the military on the insecure …
Read More »‘Tragic’ measles vaccine blunder kills 15 children in South Sudan
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | Fifteen children died in South Sudan after receiving contaminated measles vaccines that had not been properly refrigerated, and were mixed using the same syringe for four days. In addition to the blunders handling the vaccine, Health Minister Riek Gai Kok said that two children, …
Read More »South Sudan troops tried for rape, murder in Juba compound attack
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | A South Sudan military court on Tuesday opened the trial of 13 soldiers accused of raping foreign aid workers and murdering a local journalist during fighting in Juba last July. The chilling attack cast a spotlight on atrocities by government troops but also led …
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