PaanLuel ë Wël

06/05/2026

https://paanluelwel.com/2026/05/06/the-dangerous-mirage-of-taking-town-to-the-people-when-bomas-become-battlefields-in-south-sudan/

By PaanLuel Wël, Juba, South Sudan Wednesday, 06 May 2026 (PW) — The fresh administrative order by the Deputy Governor of Jonglei State, H.E. Wilson Awuol Gaajang Awuol, suspending the establishmen…

14/04/2026

https://paanluelwel.com/2026/04/14/the-fall-of-akobo-why-splm-io-has-lost-strategic-depth-since-taban-deng-gai-parted-ways-with-dr-riek-machar/

By PaanLuel Wel, Juba, South Sudan Tuesday, 14 April 2026 (PW) — There is a Jieeng saying that a house in disarray invites neighbours to comment. It appears that the SPLM-IO’s strategic appro…

08/03/2026

https://paanluelwel.com/2026/03/08/preserving-the-legacy-of-waada-reverend-stephen-mathiang-kuch-and-the-historic-farewell-to-archbishop-nathaniel-garang-anyieth/

By PaanLuel Wël, Juba, South Sudan The Deer community and the family have declared strongly and unequivocally that the late Archbishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth is a national figure who deserves to …

02/03/2026

On the ongoing crackdown on “corruption” in Juba.

Is this the dawn of fiscal purification? A recalibration of alliances? Or merely the cyclical shedding of political skin?

Dearest Junubeen, while the sun rises faithfully over Juba, it appears loyalty does not. For in recent days, our industrious capital has witnessed a spectacle more dramatic than a parliamentary session and far less transparent than the Nile in flood season.

A curious parade of dignitaries, once entrusted with the nation’s purse, petroleum, and prudence, have found themselves escorted from offices of authority to accommodations of a more secured premise: Blue House.

Among those now enjoying the hospitality of the Blue House are two former stewards of the treasury: Dr. Baak Barnabas Chol and Dr. Marial Ater Dongrin. One cannot help but admire the efficiency when the vault trembles, summon yesterday’s keyholders.

Not to be outdone, the Bank of South Sudan has contributed generously to the guest list: Hon. Mose Makur Deng, Dr. Chan Andrea, and even an electrician known simply as Abas. It would seem that in this season of accountability, neither pen nor power socket is above suspicion.

From the petroleum corridors arrives Gen. Manasa Machar Bol Yai and Eng. Deng Lual Wol, reminding us all that when oil flows mysteriously, so too may one’s freedom. And hovering nearby are officials of revenue and finance, their once-mighty titles now replaced with a quieter designation: “detained.”

The ever-assuring Hon. Ateny Wek has clarified that these events are strictly financial in nature and entirely unpolitical. One trusts him, of course. After all, in our beloved republic, politics and finance have always maintained a courteous and respectable distance, like rival cousins at a wedding.

Yet, dear Junubeen, the plot thickens. For elsewhere in our theatre of governance, come other esteemed personalities detained without the inconvenience of publicly communicated charges: Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, Gen. Akol Koor Kuch, Gen. Dominic Juuk, and Amb. Ajiing Deng. When silence is the loudest announcement, one must listen carefully.

And then, almost like a footnote to history, the tremors of the Nasir affair continue to echo. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, suspended from his lofty station as First Vice President, now enjoins in this unfolding drama, alongside Hon. Puot Kang and a constellation of co-accused figures whose names swirl through rumor faster than official statements can catch them.

Surely, the republic has graduated from decrees to detentions, from dismissals to dramatic removals. Titles fade swiftly; security details faster still.

And so we watch, dear Junubeen. We watch the vaults, the oil fields, and the presidential corridors. For in this kingdom of shifting sands, today’s accuser may be tomorrow’s accused and today’s silence may yet become tomorrow’s confession.

Is this the dawn of fiscal purification? A recalibration of alliances? Or merely the cyclical shedding of political skin, as familiar in South Sudan as the dry season dust?

Until the next arrest warrant flutters through the warm Juba air,

Yours in perpetual observation.

——
List of Detained Officials in the Recent Crackdown in Juba, South Sudan

1. Dr. Baak Barnabas Chol – Former Minister of Finance
2. Dr. Marial Ater Dongrin – Former Minister of Finance
3. Hon. Mose Makur Deng – Former Governor, Bank of South Sudan (BoSS)
4. Dr. Chan Andrea – Director General, Central Bank
5. Gen. Manasa Machar Bol Yai – Former Director, National Security Service (NSS), Petroleum Ministry
6. Hon. Garang Majak Bol – Former Undersecretary, Ministry of Finance
7. Eng. Deng Lual Wol – Former Undersecretary, Ministry of Petroleum
8. Hon. Simon Akuei Deng – Former Commissioner General, South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA)
9. Abas (Electrician)– Central Bank Electrician
10. Dr. Riek Machar Teny – Suspended First Vice President
11. Hon. Puot Kang Chol – Minister of Petroleum
12. Sixteen (16) co-accused individuals reportedly linked to the Nasir incident
13. Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel – Former Vice President
14. Gen. Akol Koor Kuch – Former Director General, Internal Bureau of Security (IBS)
15. Gen. Dominic Juuk – Former Executive Director, Office of the President
16. Amb. Ajiing Deng – Former Executive Director, Office of the President
——

21/02/2026

In the industrious state of Unity State, a triumph most unexpected has unfolded. The Ministry of Information in Bentiu held a ceremony to unveil a signpost generously donated by Médecins Sans Frontières.

Officials praised the gift for enhancing visibility. The public, however, wondered whether visibility was ever the problem. Thus, while the sign now stands tall, so too do questions about priorities in South Sudan.

No sooner has a signpost been christened in Unity State than whispers arrive of grander spectacles, a dazzling proclamation of $2 billion gold-backed road projects in the noble lands of Equatoria.

And yet, one cannot help but recall the oil-backed highway once promised to uplift Bahr el Ghazal, a project conceived in petroleum confidence, now resting quietly in political obscurity.

One might say it languishes in the Bol Mel’s infirmary of shattered ambitions.

Here lies the delicate arithmetic of reputation. South Sudan is known to the world as an oil-producing state. Gold, however, is a newer suitor in the ballroom of national revenue.

If a road secured by black gold struggles for breath, one must politely inquire how could one guaranteed by glittering gold fare?

Perhaps this is not merely about minerals, but about memory. For Junubeen, unlike commodities, do not depreciate so easily, they remember.

Yours in discreet astonishment.

08/02/2026

The government always advocates for the eradication of hunger through farming but falls short of the challenges facing farmers.

By Marol Ariech Mawien

South Sudan’s government promotes farming annually, but the sector struggles due to conflict, poor infrastructure, climate change, and lack of modern inputs without addressing these systemic challenges, advocacy alone cannot transform agriculture into a driver of food security and economic growth.

The informed citizens are aware of key challenges in the country especially inter-communal ,political conflicts and cross border conflicts in neighboring states with Sudan , central and eastern African countries disrupts farming cycles and displacement of communities from one place or another where farmers often abandon their own farming lands due to violence, which contributes to a low production in every seasonal harvest or nothing at all, beside political and communal conflicts, weak governance and limited enforcement of land rights discouraged the investment and subsistence productions.

Farmers are also affected by climate and environmental change because South Sudan agriculture is extremely (100) percent rain fed farming activities, making it highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall and droughts because weather forecast in South Sudan is not stable , sometimes drought and flooding in some regions destroyed crops and livestocks including human lives , also the daily life of people heavily depends on the forests for fuel and resources, which contributed to environmental degradation and it's of course a major contemporary problems in farming.

The issue of infrastructure deficits such as poor roads and transport systems prevent farmers from accessing markets, there are areas in the highlands that have fertile land which is good for all types of crops but the issue is, no roads network at all in such places which makes it difficult, our government especially department of agriculture did not introduce irrigation systems that hinder farmers who depend on the entirely unpredictable rainfall every year, low Productivity and technology gaps where farming is largely subsistence-based, with small plots and traditional tools with no extension services to train farmers in modern techniques ,weak institutions and lack of credit access such as agriculture bank, prevent farmers from scaling production.

Why does advocacy alone fall short?

There's an issue of policy versus practice gap, where government campaigns encouraged farming but fail to provide tools or infrastructures that will make agriculture effective, they also apply a short term focus because their annual advocacy does not address long term structural issues like irrigation, mechanisation and market development for farmers production and this limited investment because without sustainable funding from government docket and private sector involvement, farming remains at subsistence level.

In conclusion, government should regulate farming by protecting low income farmers against big income farmers, improving infrastructures and irrigation systems to stabilize production and market access, promoted climate resilient farming by introducing drought resistant crops and diversity beyond rain fed agriculture in the country including strengthening values chains by supporting cooperatives , agro processing and accessing financial funding, maintaining peace and stability by addressing conflicts to allow farmers to cultivate safely and consistently, finally provide capacity building by expanding agriculture extensions services and farmers training programs, from there South Sudan will be fully food secure.

The author, Marol Ariech Mawien, is a concerned citizen living in South Sudan to be reached @ [email protected]

31/01/2026

In memory of Comrade Deng-Athok Bior Deng.

By Dr Lam Akol

I met Deng Bior for the first time in 1968 when he was a student in Juba Commercial Secondary School. The Anya-Nya war in Southern Sudan had intensified in 1964 leading to the government taking the decision to close all schools in the South. The intermediate schools were taken to Malakal and Kodok in Upper Nile while the two secondary schools in Southern Sudan by then ended up in Khartoum. Juba Commercial occupied buildings close to Khartoum Government Secondary School which I joined in 1968 as a second year student. My two elder brothers, Pinyjwok and Tipo, were also in Juba Commercial. So, my visits to the school were frequent. That was when I met Deng Bior; a slim young man but older than his appearance would suggest. He was a soft spoken person but there was nothing special that tied us together then. After passing the Sudan School Certificate, Deng Bior was admitted to the commercial section of Khartoum Technical Institute (KTI), a prestigious college that offered 4-year courses of a technical nature in engineering and commerce. KTI was the nucleus of the current Sudan University of Science and Technology(SUST) in Khartoum. Deng did well, graduated and joined government service thereafter. I did not meet him again until – hold your breath – in 1992!

We were both in the SPLM/A having joined in 1983 but I was to remain in the country on mission while Deng went to the field of combat where he got military training and commissioned as an officer. Deng was frank, courageous and will not shy away at pointing out what he doesn’t see right. This landed him in trouble with the powers that be in the SPLA and he got detained in 1987 with Major (HC) Arok Thon Arok on a flimsy charge that he (Arok) met a government delegation in London without permission from the Chairman of the Movement. Arok hails from the same area, Kongor, as Deng Bior. I suspect that was the reason that triggered the detention of Deng Bior and other officers from Kongor with Arok.

When the SPLM/SPLA split in 1991, the two factions held church-mediated reconciliation and unity talks in Nairobi. The Nasir faction made the release of the so many SPLA political detainees as a condition for the reunification of the Movement. After a lot of resistance from the other side they finally agreed but insisted that three of them will not be released. These were the ‘three Martins’ (Martin Majier, Martin Makur Aleyou and Marting Kecburu). The rest is history.

Those of Deng Bior were released and found their way to Nairobi in 1992. That was when we met again. He was frail and limping, signs of long detention and the conditions under which they were kept. Nonetheless, he remained as sharp as he was. Deng was a prolific writer. He wrote several articles on the situation in the SPLM/SPLA and in South Sudan in general, some of which were published in the “South Sudan Vision”, the mouthpiece of the Nasir faction which was edited by Justice John Luk Jok. Other writings were published in other platforms. Deng Bior was not bitter about his detention but laid the facts bare analyzing the way the Movement was being run pointing out where things could have been done differently. It will be a useful endeavor to retrieve Deng’s writings so that people could appreciate his foresight in light of the unenviable situation the country is in currently.

To fast track, when a group of us decided to break away from the SPLM and form SPLM-DC in June 2009, Deng was unsurprisingly with us. We called for reform in Southern Sudan under the rule of the SPLM since 2005 and there were no tangible services being rendered to the people despite the billions of dollars accruing from oil annually. These are issues close to Deng’s heart. It must be pointed out that the decision of Deng to join SPLM-DC was not easy. Politically, his people in Kongor and the former Bor District generally, held the SPLM as their organization to which all of them must pay undivided allegiance and anyone of them who thinks or acts otherwise is considered a prodigal son/daughter. But Deng knew and believed that history is made by non-conformist far-sighted individuals. Being the courageous man he was he defied the easy way out and chose the difficult path; short cuts do not necessarily lead to salvation. By the time of his departure from this world so much water has run under the bridge, and things that were taboo at that time are being openly questioned and debated today. This, more than anything else, stands out as Deng’s outstanding legacy. He has been exonerated by history.

The SPLM-DC held its first convention in August 2009 and Deng Bior was elected the Secretary for Finance and later the Secretary General when the name was changed to the Democratic Change Party (DCP) in Juba, a position he held till his passing on. Being in the SPLM-DC and later DC wasn’t easy. Southern Sudan was not as democratic as it claimed. The leadership was exclusive and did not tolerate the presence of another party not in its orbit. The party was under constant harassment from the ruling party and a number of members threw in the towel, but Deng Bior persisted for his decision wasn’t emotional but well considered.

Many younger colleagues in the party call him fondly “uncle Deng” for his wisdom and soft speaking. All in the party attest to his dedication to the party, honesty and commitment to accountability in anything he does. Above all Deng Bior was a patriot, driven by what he believes was to the interest of the country. He paid a lot for his patriotism. He will be missed not only by his family and friends but by well-meaning citizens of South Sudan.

My commiseration go to his extended family and all his relatives and friends. May the Almighty rest his soul in eternal peace.

29 January 2026.

24/01/2026

By Ariemba Mogaka, Kenya

If a SOCIALITE writes a book on 'How to GROW your NYASH', and a PROFESSOR writes a book on ' The Dichotomy of African Financial Markets ', the socialite will outsell the professor.
If you want to make MONEY in 2026, don't seek to MONETIZE brilliance. On the contrary, target to monetize STUPIDITY and GREED and vain desires.

Even when you are selling, it is easier to sell to the stupid and greedy than to the bright and temperate. The bright and temperate suffer from paralysis of analysis.

Brilliance is good. But once you are of above average brilliance, WEAPONISE it on the STUPID MASSES. You can see through their hollow desires and illusions. You can see the illusions they hold are nonsense but you can make money out of them.

Politicians long learnt it. They will promise stupid voters anything. They will bribe them. Join the bandwagon, don't insult politicians. Identify a niche, some stupidity, some greed, some vain desire and make money from it.

Even preachers learnt it. That is why they will sell ANOINTING OIL. Or sell holy water or holy handkerchiefs. It is inherently cheaper to sell anointing oil at a premium price than opening an oil processing factory.

You can choose to open a water bottling plant. Or a neighbourhood water kiosk. That will require a lot of logistics. Selling some holy water at a premium may be better.

Our life on earth is short, people will die before they hold you accountable. You might also die before being held accountable. In many cases, the very people you are exploiting will defend you to death.

Make use of your brilliance to extract money from them. Let them take loans and sell land and bring the money to you. BRILLIANCE feeds a FEW people on the top of the pyramid. But a lot of money can be made from capitalising on IGNORANCE and STUPIDITY of the MASSES.

You can choose to study ARCHIMEDE'S PRINCIPLE and publish extensively on how boats and ships can be built and float on water and resist powerful tides.

But it is easier convincing people that if they BELIEVE strong enough, they can WALK ON WATER and you will make more money.

People will voluntarily pay to renew their subscription service so that you can continue convincing them that they can walk on water, despite glaring evidence to the contrary. When they will try walking on water and they fail, they will blame themselves for not believing enough.

Archimede's principle is only monetised if you own a ship building company. But walking on water can be monetised by anyone. You only need some courage, a public address system and some delusional people who are willing to believe a myth.

I suspect stupidity is GOOD for BUSINESS. Stupid people for example easily fall for deceptive advertising. A lot of harmful products are sold and stupid people buy them courtesy of deceptive advertising.

A large part of the processed foods industry will collapse if people stop being stupid. A lot of entertainment will close. A lot of gadgets will lose market. Stupidity is a BIG ECONOMY. Over 50% of employment is probably generated by stupidity.

Stupid doesn't mean UNEDUCATED, we have stupidity at all levels of education. We have stupid professors. Greedy means those who have not brought their desires and appetites into the subjection of their will.

Prophet Owuor makes more money in one HEALING SESSION than a consultant doctor at KENYATTA HOSPITAL who is also a Professor in the School of Medicine at the UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI.

In 2026, you have to decide which section in the market you will make your money. Some markets require more effort and are heavily regulated. The return is small.

Prophet Owuor just needs to stage one miracle, even if it is fake. And he will collect his fees, running into millions. Sometimes people will even continue sending him money, long after the supposed miracle happened.

The professor of the other hand has to charge miserable consultation fees, be subject to a rigid regulatory architecture and go on strike at the university to get a KES 20,000 salary increase which will be paid in three phases.

He also has to publish boring papers in boring journals, with a lot of back and forth reviewer feedback and a lot of rejection.

If we audit Owuor's business, he generates revenues probably more than Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan, MP Shah and Gertrude combined.

It is more profitable to run a club with girl possessing large posterior and skimpily dressed than running a small factory. The business model of a factory is more complicated. You have to think of complicated supply chains among many things.

For the club, just sell nudity, with some ambience that communicates sin, indulgence and freedom from the daily performative environment that seems curated.

Class, stupidity pays, don't try to be too bright. As I have argued before, even a PhD has a very low return on investment.

Yours faithfully
Mwalimu.

PaanLuel Wël.

23/01/2026

https://paanluelwel.com/2026/01/23/the-gatkuoth-precedent-gratitude-paradox-of-thanking-the-president-for-ones-own-dismissal/

By PaanLuel Wël, Juba, South Sudan Introduction In the high-stakes theater of South Sudanese politics, a peculiar new genre of literature, the Post-Termination Love Letter, has emerged. If memory s…

21/01/2026

MISSING CHILD ALERT!!!

Baby Guor K*t Nyang, just 3 months old, has gone missing in Juba.

His family in Juba 2, Juba, is anxiously searching and asking for the community’s help.

If you’ve seen the baby, or you have any clue that could reunite him with his worried family, please don’t scroll past — speak up.

One message, one call, one share could bring him home.

📞 Call immediately: +211 928 410 455

PaanLuel Wël.

Source: Insight Juba Media.

19/01/2026

Riddle time!