Jonglei commemorates International Women’s Day
13 March 2012 - Thousands of Jonglei State residents celebrated International Women's Day in the capital Bor today with speeches, songs, traditional dancing and military parades. The scene of recent inter-communal conflict, Jonglei commemorated the Day (celebrated worldwide on 8 March) under the…
Western Bahr El-Ghazal signs transitional constitution
14 March 2012 – Furthering rule of law and a decentralized system of government, citizens of Western Bahr El-Ghazal State witnessed the signing of the State Transitional Constitution and swearing-in of their governor today in the capital Wau. Attending the event with several national ministers…
Thousands of weapons collected in Bor
14 March 2012 - Two days after the South Sudanese government launched a civilian disarmament exercise in Jonglei State, thousands of weapons have been collected in the capital Bor, state officials said. More than 4,000 arms were handed over to uniformed forces included mortars, machine guns, rifles…
Uncertainty looms over Unity peace conference
13 March 2012 - Ongoing challenges could hinder an inter-state peace conference on border areas to be held in Madol, Unity State, although preparations were on course, a top local official said today. An airstrip has been prepared and areas cleared for construction of tukuls (mud and straw huts) and…
Education key to South Sudanese development, says Coomaraswamy
15 March 2012 - Even with an austerity budget, education was vital if South Sudan was to flourish, a top UN official specializing in children said today in the South Sudanese capital of Juba. "It is only the presence of effective social programmes that will prevent children from being lured into…
Setting the ball rolling
In a nation where cultural practices strongly discourage women from entering male-dominated spheres of life, a female football team is rare. But a recent upsurge of female football teams in the international arena, like the indomitable Falcons of Nigeria and Black Queens of Ghana, has attracted…
Ban commends Sudan, South Sudan for progress in talks
15 March 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended Sudan and South Sudan for progress in talks on post-independence issues, including agreements reached on the status of citizens and demarcation of the border. "Coming to an agreement on the status of nationals of each state and the…
UNMISS and legislators visit Duk Padiet to promote Jonglei disarmament
16 March 2012- A team of Jonglei state legislators and UNMISS staff met with residents ofDuk Padiet payam today prior to the start of a civilian disarmament exercise there. State legislators representing constituencies located in Duk County joined the team to help promote awareness about the…
Progress report on civilian disarmament in Jonglei
18 March 2012 – In an interview, Jonglei Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk gave an upbeat assessment of the civilian disarmament campaign in his state after it was officially launched by President Salva Kiir Mayarditlast week. Question: How is the civilian disarmament process proceeding? Governor Manyang…
An orphan’s plea for peace in Jonglei
A teenage boy who lost his mother in an attack on the payam of Duk Padiet earlier this year called on all residents of Jonglei State to surrender their arms to government forces. Agang Mathau's mother Nyandom Dau was among the 157 victims who perished in a 16 January raid by armed men believed to…
Returnees arrive in Bentiu
16 March 2012 – Four barges carrying 382 South Sudanese and their personal belongings arrived in Bentiu at week's end upon completing a long journey from the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. They were believed to be the first group of South Sudanese returnees threatened with expulsion by the Sudanese…
Refugee influx into Longochuk and Maiwut counties
16 March 2012 – Cattle rustling, migration and the influx of refugees from neighboring Blue Nile State in Sudan continue to pose problems for the residents of Longochuk and Maiwut counties in Upper Nile State. But an UNMISS team of civil affairs and public information officers found security…