Bilpham RADIO, Nairobi (2025)

09/12/2025

SPLM-IO officials loyal to former Panyijiar commissioner allegedly arrested by new commissioner

December 9, 2025
At least five SPLM-IO members who support Gabriel Magok Bol, the former SPLM/A-IO appointed military commissioner of Unity State’s Panyijiar County, were reportedly arrested last week by the newly appointed commissioner, Stephen G*i.

G*i was appointed by acting SPLM/A-IO chairperson Oyet Nathaniel last month. However, the changes led to tensions with Magok rejecting his removal. The standoff led to violent clashes between supporters of the two officials.

Former commissioner Magok told Radio Tamzaju on Monay that five of his supporters were arrested by the new SPLM/A-IO commissioner, G*i.

“Five people, including the county police director, SPLM-IO county secretary, and three other SPLM-IO members, were arrested and beaten in detention,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Stephen G*i, the new SPLM/A-IO commissioner, denied that he ordered the arrests.

“What happened here in Panyijiar County is that we saved their lives from armed youth who were fighting alongside the former commissioner, Gabriel Magok Bol,” he said. “They are here in my compound if someone wants to see them.”

He said those captured alive by armed youth include the county’s police director, the director for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the SPLM-IO county secretary, and a payam administrator.

Relatedly, former commissioner, Gabriel Magok Bol, told this publication on Monay that he is not under arrest and is still the substantive commissioner because he did not get any official communication about his being removed from office.

“What happened is that my three bodyguards were killed when I was attacked by Stephen G*i, the new commissioner of Panyijiar County, who was appointed by Oyet Nathaniel,” he explained. “The new commissioner forced me to hand over the stamp to him, although it was not communicated to me by my line manager, Unity State Deputy Governor Tor Tunguar. What my line manager told me and directed me was not to hand over the stamp or anything to him [G*i]. This is what was communicated to me by the leadership of SPLM-IO in Unity State.”

“So, I am still operating as the commissioner of Panyijiar County because I was not removed, and the alleged removal by Oyet was rejected by my line manager, who is the deputy governor,” Magok added.

He said the security situation in the county has deteriorated since clashes erupted last week, and there is ra**ng and killing of civilians by unknown armed people.

“I did not flee to Lakes State as alleged, and I am still in Panyijiar County because I am still the sitting commissioner after being appointed by the 2018 peace agreement,” he stated. “The peace agreement is still alive, and we are waiting for the court hearing if First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to conclude.”

09/12/2025

Two killed, several injured in Bor town clashes

December 8, 2025 BOR
Two people, including a deputy commander of a local defence group and a national security officer, have been killed during an operation by security forces in Bor, the capital of Jonglei State.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at a hotel in the town centre, leading to hours of unrest and gunfire that caused panic among residents.

Bor County Commissioner, Ateny Pech, told Radio Tamazuj that security forces had moved to apprehend leaders of the Red Belt group, which the government has designated a rebel entity.

He said the group’s leader, Leek Mamer, had recently issued a “48-hour ultimatum to attack Bor,” prompting close surveillance.

“On Sunday afternoon, Leek and six other people were spotted in a hotel near the main park,” Ateny explained. “After the security forces showed their presence, Leek ran away, resulting in an exchange of fire.”

Commissioner Ateny said that in the confrontation, the deputy leader of the Red Belt, identified as Thon Kuany Agut-Machar, was shot dead. An officer from the National Security Service (NSS) was also killed and two other NSS officers were injured.

He added that seven other people were wounded, including the hotel owner and a local wrestler. The injured were evacuated to the capital, Juba, for treatment and would later be investigated for any alleged links to the group.

Who are the ‘Red Belt’?

The Red Belt is a community-based defence group drawn from the Dinka Bor community. It came to prominence earlier this year after being accused by state authorities of orchestrating attacks, including one on government troops in September.

South Sudan’s national army subsequently declared it a rebel group.

However, the group’s leader, Leek Mamer, has previously rejected the rebel label. In interviews, he has described the Red Belt as a vigilante force formed to protect local communities and their livelihoods, citing frustration over insecurity and a lack of state protection.

Calls for dialogue

The violence has prompted concern from civil society figures in the state.

Ter Manyang Gatwech, a civil society activist, condemned the violence and called for dialogue to address the root causes of the group’s emergence.

“There is no justification for citizens to die,” Ter told Radio Tamazuj. “This issue of the Red Belt Movement emerged because of frustration with the government.”

“I am afraid this violent extremism will not only be in Bor given the economic hardship. So dialogue is the only option,” he added.

09/12/2025

Meet the giant of the Nile, Micheal Malith Dak!

09/12/2025

UNMISS calls for concrete action after political dialogue to end violence

December 9, 2025 JUBA CITY
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Tuesday said it is encouraged by renewed efforts from the country’s leaders to reinvigorate political dialogue but stresses that meaningful progress towards sustainable peace and credible elections requires an immediate end to violence nationwide.

According to a press statement extended to Radio Tamazuj, the Mission said it remains deeply concerned by ongoing hostilities such as aerial bombardments, armed confrontations, and intercommunal clashes that continue to cause loss of life, widespread displacement, and the destruction of property, including critical humanitarian infrastructure.

“We note that South Sudan’s leaders are expressing their dedication to dialogue, unity of purpose, and inclusivity,” said Graham Maitland, Officer in Charge of UNMISS. “These are important steps at this critical moment, but such commitments will only translate into tangible progress if collective action is taken to ensure violence does not undermine these efforts.”

He added that while UNMISS continues to stand with the people and Government of South Sudan, it is essential that all stakeholders prioritize civilian protection and move decisively to advance the peace process.

“Now is the time to match words with meaningful action. By engaging in genuine, sustained dialogue and fully respecting the ceasefire, South Sudan’s leaders can steer the country towards stability,” Maitland stated. “The South Sudanese people deserve not only promises, but lasting peace.”

09/12/2025

SSPDF Secures Heglig as South Sudan Disarms SAF Soldiers, Reaffirms Neutrality in Sudan War
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have reiterated the country’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, while tightening security around the vital Heglig oil fields amid rising tensions along the border.
Lieutenant General Johnson Olony, the SSPDF Chief Assistant for Mobilization and Disarmament, said South Sudan will not take sides in the Sudanese war but remains committed to safeguarding its territorial integrity and key national assets. He stated that forces have been placed on high alert to prevent any incursions or instability spilling over from the conflict.
Gen. Olony further revealed that SSPDF troops have officially disarmed members of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) who crossed into South Sudanese territory. He said the SAF personnel will be hosted on humanitarian grounds and relocated to safer areas within the country while awaiting conditions that allow for their eventual return to Sudan.
Meanwhile, SSPDF Chief of Staff, Gen. Dr. Paul Nang, is currently in Ruweng Administrative Area overseeing security operations and the handling of SAF soldiers who entered the region.
Authorities say these measures are aimed at ensuring stability along the tense border zone while maintaining South Sudan’s neutral stance in the neighboring conflict.

09/12/2025

Man raises bid to $60,000, 200 cows in competition to marry lady
A marriage bidding competition for a lady, Atong Aguto has intensified after one of the suitors increased his offer to $60,000 and 200 cows.
The suitor, Mabior Abit Biar, initially offered 158 cows and $25,000. But after another suitor presented a higher offer, Mabior and his community raised their bid to match and counter it.
The unusual public competition has drawn wide attention on social media, with many people wondering which man, Atong and her family will choose.
Bride-price competitions in South Sudan sometimes reach hundreds of cows, a practice activists have repeatedly criticized for placing pressure on families and turning marriage into a financial contest.

09/12/2025

These forces (Sudanese soldiers) are now with us here in Panakuach, and we have taken all the supplies that were in their possession, including military equipment. We have taken control of all the areas and will go to Heglig to take control of the area. We are awaiting instructions from President Salva Kiir and Commander Burhan.” — Lieutenant General Johnson Olony SSPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces for Mobilization & Disarmament

08/12/2025

Sudanese Soldiers Flee Heglig, Surrender to SSPDF in Unity State
The South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) has confirmed the arrival of Sudanese troops following intensified fighting in the oil-rich Heglig region, causing Sudanese Army forces to spill into South Sudan’s Unity State.
Speaking to the media in Akuach, Unity State, Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony, the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces for Mobilization and Disarmament, revealed that the SSPDF has received Sudanese soldiers who were pushed back from Heglig by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Lt. Gen. Olony stated that the Sudanese troops have surrendered their weapons to the SSPDF and are now awaiting directives from the respective governments of Sudan and South Sudan, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and President Salva Kiir.
He emphasized that the SSPDF will continue to maintain strict neutrality in the ongoing conflict and will assume control over Heglig from the RSF, prioritizing peace and stability amid rising tensions.
This development marks a critical escalation of cross-border conflict affecting the volatile frontier between Sudan and South Sudan, with potential implications for regional security and oil production.

08/12/2025

Be Proud to be Aweilian 🌹🌹The Peaceful Community in the Dinka Land. The Peaceful Madingda✨🫡2012

08/12/2025

President Salva Kiir has fired his Private Secretary and Personal Assistant, Moses Rou Ayii, and the Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue Authority, John Mading Bol. In separate decrees, the President appointed Akol Santo Arech as the new Private Secretary and Personal Assistant, while he appointed Moses Rou Ayii as the new Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue Authority. (Source: SSBC)

08/12/2025

Crisis warning as South Sudan cuts education funding

December 8, 2025 JUBA
A coalition of civil society groups and lawmakers in South Sudan has lamented the government’s continued underfunding of education and its low commitment to meeting its own legal mandate. The government is failing to allocate “at least 10%” of the national budget to general education as required by the General Education Act of 2012, a failure that places millions of children at risk.

The concern was issued in a formal communiqué at the conclusion of a two-day, high-level dialogue in the capital, Juba. The document was presented to Vice President for the Service Cluster, Josephine Joseph Lagu.

The dialogue was held at the Crown Hotel from December 3rd to 4th, 2025.

The communiqué states that the budget allocation for general education fell to just 2.7% of national expenditure for the 2024/2025 financial year—a sharp decline from 4.5% the previous year. This figure is drastically below the national legal requirement of at least 10% mandated by the country’s General Education Act of 2012.

Participants described a severe and systemic financing crisis crippling the sector. They noted that South Sudan’s education budget is now the lowest in East Africa, compared to a regional average of 11.9% for basic education. This falls far short of not only the national benchmark but also international standards.

The communiqué highlights the collapse of direct funding to schools, known as capitation grants, which have not been paid since 2019. This failure has led to widespread infrastructure decay, operational breakdown, and a loss of public confidence in public schools. Furthermore, the policy of free and compulsory basic education is undermined by persistent indirect costs for families, effectively denying access to children from low-income households and worsening the out-of-school crisis affecting 2.8 million children.

Additional concerns raised include chronically low budget ex*****on rates, frequently below 30%, which cause unpredictable salary payments for teachers and make school-level planning impossible. Accountability mechanisms are reportedly under-resourced, and coordination between government ministries is weak.

The communiqué urges the Vice President to champion immediate reforms and to present these pressing concerns directly to President Salva Kiir Mayardit. Key recommendations include issuing a public presidential directive to reaffirm the 10% funding pledge with a binding timeline, legally protecting education funds from reallocation, and restoring capitation grants with a schedule to clear all arrears since 2020. It also calls for earmarking a specific percentage of national tax revenue directly for education to ensure predictable financing.

The dialogue was facilitated by the National Education Coalition, a network of over 200 local and international organizations. The final communiqué was witnessed by members of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly’s education committee, signaling parliamentary backing for the urgent calls to action.

08/12/2025

Near Missed Situation This Morning Between RSF and SAF Elements in Unity Oilfield in Bentiu:

This morning a dramatic event took place in Unity State Oilfield where a group of SAF Elements who are recently dislodged from Helig fighting by RSF got accommodated at Unity Oilfield. This morning they went for morning breakfast, while eating there on tables, a group of RSF elements who have been also accommodated for months in the same Unity oilfields came for a breakfast too. In a surprise contact, the two enemies came to close eyes contacts without prior knowledge the other group's present around breakfast hall, leading to verbal confrontations and abuses to oneself. And had it not been due to early interventions by security officer in the name of: Lual Aken Tong who advised the RSF elements to pulled out from kitchen and waited somewhere else things could turn ugly.

The question of the day is: how does South Sudan government manage to host two feuding forces in close range begs some political answers!

Meanwhile, CDF General Paul Nang, General Johnson Olony, plus other senior SSPDF officers are heading to Helig to officially disarm and receiving all weapons from SAF elements being chased from Sudan into Panakuach, a South Sudan territory. And probably officially registering these defeated SAF elements as refugees according to international humanitarian laws.

Stay tuned for more details!

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