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ALL ARTICLES SOUTH SUDAN

Diplomacy 17/03/2022

Elections: African Union observers concerned about Kiir's real intentions

South-Sudanese president Salva Kiir. © @SouthSudanGov/Twitter

Politics 10/03/2022

Kiir rushes elections in bid for quick political gain

Diplomacy 02/03/2022

The failure of mediation over Tigray whets the appetites of Moscow and Beijing

The low-key visit to the Horn of Africa in early February by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was followed by the appointment of a special Chinese envoy for the region. Their interest coincides with the loss of momentum in the ongoing talks between Kenya and the African Union. [...]

Diplomacy 25/02/2022

Having established links with Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, Hargeisa lobbies Washington for recognition

Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi. © Reuters

Inner circles

Politics 04/02/2022

Power-hungry Salva Kiir fashions army in his own image

Politics 03/02/2022

Kiir keeps accounts under lock and key in face of embezzlement allegations

The number of reports higlighting illicit practices and lack of transparency in South Sudan continue to grow, but President Salva Kiir's government refuses to make its accounts or oil data public. [...]

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SOUTH SUDAN

Diplomacy 18/01/2022

Pope Francis's Juba trip planners navigate precarious landscape

In 2019, Pope Francis spectacularly involved himself in the South Sudanese peace process when he kissed the feet of the country's leaders. The visit he is currently planning to make to Juba with the UK's Archbishop of Canterbury will be less political, but it might indirectly help speed up discussions between the government and rebel groups who have still not signed up to the 2018 peace deal. [...]

Pope Francis receives the President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir at the Vatican on March 16, 2019. © AbacaPress/Reuters

Oil & gas 24/12/2021

Jefferies devotes itself to facilitating withdrawal of Petronas from Africa

The investment bank Jefferies is doing all it can to speed up the Malaysian major's withdrawal from the region. [...]

Oil & gas 10/12/2021

Petronas keen to conclude Perenco mega-deal

Malaysian oil major Petronas is trying to divest itself of all of its mature producing assets in the region. These may be bought by French company Perenco. [...]

Politics 05/11/2021

Salva Kiir fears fallout from Burhan coup

Separated from the north just ten years ago, South Sudan is closely monitoring the latest events across the border. Should General Burhan's military coup of 25 October spark a period of unrest in Khartoum, South Sudan will be in the front line. [...]

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. © Daniel Irungu/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Politics 25/10/2021

Salva Kiir bruised by his Tigers

Unable to recruit men of fighting age and pay their salaries, the military unit in charge of President Kiir's security is beset by persistent discipline problems. [...]

Oil & gas 20/10/2021

Petronas plans its difficult departure

The Asian oil company Petronas no longer wants to invest in South Sudan and plans to leave. But at what price? [...]

Diplomacy 11/10/2021

Macron strengthens cooperation with Sudanese intelligence

The heads of Sudanese intelligence agencies are expected in Paris at the end of this week to discuss questions of security with their French counterparts and the ministry of foreign affairs. [...]

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman Abel Fattah al-Burhan. © Yoan Valat/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Business Ports and airports 10/09/2021

UAE and China spar over Horn of Africa ports

Four months after opening the port of Berbera in Somaliland, DP World's chairman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, tasked his teams to conduct a study on Chinese activism in the ports of the Horn of Africa. [...]

Politics 20/08/2021

Machar's political capital up in flames as SPLMI-IO splits in two

President Salva Kiir's toughest rival, South Sudan's first vice-president, has been fiercely challenged by both the military and political branches of his own party and is now but a shadow of his former self. [...]

South Sudan vice president Riek Machar, leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition. © STRINGER/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Politics 14/07/2021

Salva Kiir buys himself a private army Free

A hundred South Sudanese soldiers have just returned to Juba having undergone training in Ukraine. They'll form the core of the future special forces that the president wants. [...]

Politics 08/07/2021

Tensions over transitional assembly may tarnish tenth anniversary of independance

Tomorrow, South Sudan turns ten. President Salva Kiir is grasping to hold onto his parliamentary majority as a new assembly is expected to be sworn in. [...]

Diplomacy 01/07/2021

Regional expert Annette Weber appointed EU special envoy for Horn

The German academic Annette Weber, who takes on her new role on 1 July, will have her work cut out for her as she surveys a region marked by the conflict in Tigray, a complex election in Somalia and Sudan's fraught transition. [...]

EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber. © Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik

Politics 30/06/2021

US, UK and Norway call for more unity in Sudanese peace process

The South Sudanese government was to head into a second round of talks with the country's divided rebel groups in Rome on Thursday. Prompted by the process sponsors - the US, UK and Norway -, the government has postponed the summit while it tries to find a way to negotiate with all sides at once. [...]

Business Defence 17/05/2021

Russian PANH Helicopters returns to UNMISS

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, has once again opted for a Russian firm in its latest choice of subcontractor. In late April, the Krasnodar-based PANH Helicopters won a one-year $5m contract to supply a transport helicopter for logistics missions. [...]

Politics 04/05/2021

Barnaba Marial, Kiir's new yes man

The key presidential affairs ministerial portfolio has been given to Barnaba Marial Benjamin, one of President Salva Kiir's staunchest loyalists. He partly owes his plum post to a pair of powerful patrons, who may well call in the favour down the line. [...]

South Sudan Presidential Affairs Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin. © Riccardo De Luca/Update Images Press/MaxPPP

Oil & gas 26/04/2021

Kiir's former favourite Nhial to be ousted from Nilepet

Nhial Deng Nhial lost his powerful post of presidential affairs minister in an 11 April cabinet reshuffle. [...]

Former presidential affairs minister © Reuters

Politics 14/04/2021

The fight for Salva Kiir's succession heats up

The recent government reshuffle has cleared the path for South Sudan's chief spy Akol Koor. But president Salva Kiir remains deeply suspicious of the Internal Security Bureau director, barring him from any power over the country's lucrative oil resources. [...]

Business Defence 22/03/2021

Regional veterans WS Insight and Pinnacle Security to guard UNMISS facilities

The peacekeeping mission is set to spend $50m on the two private security companies, who have ample experience and solid networks in East Africa. [...]

Oil & gas 17/03/2021

CNPC and Petronas to be scrutinised by redoubted oil industry auditor Alex Stewart International

The audit group most feared by oil companies operating in Africa is to go through the accounts of the two Asian majors with the aim of spotting the slightest irregularities. [...]