First Independent Mena Newspaper
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 […]
The United Nations announced Thursday, May 22 that it has allotted $10 million to South Sudan, to provide over 270,000 people with life-saving humanitarian aid. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) aid will be used to support communities in six high-risk counties, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). […]
Attacks on medical facilities in South Sudan are increasing, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which said that the “major conflict” has caused mass displacement and that under-resourced health centers are finding it difficult to cope. Political instability and insecurity have long plagued South Sudan, but in recent months, tensions between President Salva Kiir and […]
A devastating aerial assault on Old Fangak in South Sudan’s Jonglei state has left at least seven civilians dead and twenty more injured, as humanitarian agencies raise alarms over the reawakening of full-scale civil conflict. The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that a helicopter gunship attacked the only hospital in Fangak County, obliterating […]
As Africa mourns the death of Pope Francis, worshippers and leaders across the continent are reflecting on the profound legacy he leaves behind — and speculating about the future leadership of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis, who died Monday (21 April), is remembered for his unwavering advocacy for the poor, peace in conflict zones, and […]
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is once again on the edge of civil war, five years after a fragile peace agreement ended its last major conflict. Tensions have escalated dramatically following the arrest of first vice president Riek Machar in March and renewed fighting between government and opposition forces. According to a new Geopolitical […]