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…
Mama Zahra: Whetting Juba appetites
When Rose Pita began cooking in the backyard of her home in the South Sudanese capital of Juba 19 years ago, she never imagined becoming a role model for aspiring restaurateurs. Popularly known as Mama Zahra, the 44-year-old woman has built her once meagre business up into two large restaurants in…
Basic school exam results in Upper Nile State show decline
28 March 2012 – The percentage of students who passed their basic examinations in Upper Nile State is down from last year, according to results announced today by the state government's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Nearly 10,000 students took their exams at 40 testing centers…
Vice-President Machar links development to disarmament
1 April 2012 --The commissioners of three counties in western Jonglei State today told a high-level delegation led by Vice President Riek Machar that over 1,700 firearms have been surrendered since a civilian disarmament exercise began nearly three weeks ago. Accompanied by Jonglei Governor Kuol…
UNMISS staff members donate clothes to ex-rebels
30 March 2012 – UNMISS national staff members based in Malakal donated used clothing to former members of a rebel militia group in Upper Nile State who recently accepted a presidential amnesty. The donation occurred at the Malakal barracks of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and was…
Over a thousand returnees arrive in Renk
31 March 2012 - Despite recent clashes between Sudanese and South Sudanese forces in Heglig, busloads of returnees destined for Bahr El-Ghazal arrived safely today in Renk County, Upper Nile State. The 1,476 South Sudanese encountered armed military along the way in the Sudanese state of Southern…
Dog training and mine coordination centre opens in Juba
4 April 2012 - A facility to train dogs in detecting landmines was opened today by the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) and South African demining organization MECHEM in the South Sudanese capital Juba. UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan Lise Grande said that the facility's…
Jonglei peace planning workshop concludes in Bor
4 April 2012 - Conflict among communities in Jonglei State had created barriers among its residents, who must now work towards peace and reconciliation, a top South Sudanese official said today at a workshop in the capital Bor. "These conflicts have created internal instability for a long time and…
Pochalla County calls for protection
5 April 2012 - Pointing to frequent criminal attacks and abductions in Pochalla County, Jonglei State, local officials called today on the South Sudanese government to deploy sufficient forces there to protect civilians. Communities were repeatedly complaining to the county administration about…
IOM intensifies support to South Sudanese returnees
9 April 2012 - Over half a million South Sudanese remaining in Sudan face an uncertain future after missing the 8 April deadline to depart from that country. Up to 120,000 are awaiting transportation, provided by South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, to depart from Sudan's capital city…
Civilian disarmament peaceful in Wanding
5 April 2012 - Government-led civilian disarmament had been proceeding peacefully since it began on 1 April in Wanding payam (district), Upper Nile State, local officials told an UNMISS and state government assessment mission today. "Many people ran away ... They thought the process would be the…