First Independent Mena Newspaper
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has appealed for the immediate lifting of international sanctions and a United Nations arms embargo, citing their detrimental impact on the country’s progress and security sector reform. Addressing lawmakers at the opening of the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly in Juba on Wednesday, July 16, Kiir emphasised that South Sudan’s […]
A recent U.S. deportation of five convicted foreign nationals to the African kingdom of Eswatini has ignited outrage among human rights groups and African leaders. The individuals — originally from Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen, and Laos — were expelled after their home countries refused to accept them. All five have serious criminal convictions, including murder […]
South Sudanese authorities have confirmed on Tuesday, July 08, the arrival and custody of eight men deported from the United States, who landed at Juba International Airport on Saturday. According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel, the individuals were transferred through “standard deportation procedures” and are currently being screened by relevant Government bodies to ensure […]
The Trump administration has completed the controversial deportation of eight men to South Sudan, a nation the U.S. government warns its own citizens not to enter due to ongoing violence, armed conflict, and human rights abuses. The deportees, nationals of Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Sudan, were convicted of serious crimes, including murder […]
Efforts by Sudan and South Sudan to revise transit and processing fees for South Sudan’s crude oil exports concluded inconclusively, with no formal agreement reached following high-level meetings in Port-Sudan. Though talks were described as constructive by Sudanese officials, technical sources revealed significant differences remained over logistical adjustments, particularly at the Bashayer oil terminal. South […]
Qatar National Bank (QNB) has petitioned a U.S. federal court to enforce a $1.02 billion arbitration award against South Sudan, stemming from an unpaid wartime loan originally intended to stabilize the fledgling nation’s economy. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, QNB’s request asks the court to treat the International Centre […]
The European Union has strongly condemned the recent escalation of armed clashes in South Sudan, describing the situation as the worst since 2018. Speaking at the opening of the Annual Gender Equality Forum in Juba on Tuesday, June 17, the EU Deputy Head of Delegation, Lothar Jaschke, criticized the use of aerial bombings, ground offensives, […]
The United Nations has issued a dire warning that five countries — Sudan, South Sudan, Palestine (Gaza), Mali, and Haiti — are facing an imminent risk of famine, driven largely by conflict, climate shocks, and economic decline. In its latest Hunger Hotspots report released Monday (16 June), the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and Food […]
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has imposed a six-month state of emergency in Warrap State and Mayom County following a surge in deadly inter-communal clashes over cattle and access to scarce water and grazing land. The violence, which has intensified in recent months—particularly in Tonj County—has claimed hundreds of lives, with over 200 deaths recorded […]
Kenya has become a major transit hub for smuggled gold from conflict-ridden African countries, with illicit exports far exceeding official figures, according to a new SwissAid report. While the government declared only 672 kilograms of gold exports in 2023, the report estimates that over two tons — possibly far more — are illegally trafficked through […]