The City Review Digital, Juba (2026)

10/09/2026

Questions Around the Sep. 17 Inter-party Dialogue in S. Sudan

President Salva Kiir-led inter-party dialogue set for next week, September 17. However, Questions already arise on the parties that will take part in the dialogue, inclusivity and whether both peace signatory and no signatory factions will be party to the conversations deemed to 'resolve election related issues and challenges.

Grab yourself a copy if the Citu Review on Thursday for more details:

07/09/2026

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu's husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan, has died. Announcing the loss this morning, the country's vice President Diogratious Ndejembe said the First Gentleman died at 8am on Monday (today) while receiving treatment at a hospital in Zanzibar. He was suffering from a heart condition.

07/09/2026

The City Review on Monday.

UN Human Rights Commission on Soutu Sudan Visit

UN body arrives in the country today, for a three days mission.

Get more details on today's edition of The City Review

01/09/2026

The City Review on Tuesday.

VP Taban Deng raises concerns over unequal business access to South Sudanese businesses in the region

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27/08/2026

Central Equatoria State governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony has commended the progress of the ongoing Juba Urban Market Development Project, lauding the African Development Bank (AfDB), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and the implementing authorities for achieving 87 percent completion.
According to a statement from the governor’s Press unit, Governor Adil characterized the project as a significant national development initiative being executed through local authorities, emphasizing its crucial role in providing modern market infrastructure for the residents of Juba.

Meanwhile, the Juba City Mayor stated that the city council is collaborating closely with the state government and pertinent ministries, including Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Animal Resources. He further noted that consultations with the AfDB-appointed consultant have concluded, and the Juba City Council will manage the market in conjunction with state stakeholders.

The project encompasses a basement with parking capacity for 150 vehicles, over 140 ground-floor commercial spaces designated for farmers and traders, more than 100 first-floor retail shops, a rooftop community area, and over 26 toilets on each floor.
The project is expected to promote trade and job creation and serve as a foundation for urban transformation and fiscal growth in the state.

27/08/2026

The United Nations Police (UNPOL) and the Western Equatoria State Ministry of General Education and Instruction have agreed to strengthen collaboration in tackling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and early child marriage through sensitization programmes targeting schools and communities.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in Yambio between UNPOL officials and the state Ministry of General Education and Instruction, as authorities raised concern over the continued challenges affecting the protection, education and wellbeing of children in the state.
Acting Field Police Commander PA Veronica Koiquah Barlingar said UNPOL was seeking the ministry’s cooperation because schools provide an important platform for reaching children, parents and communities with information on the dangers of SGBV and early child marriage.
She said addressing the problems requires more than police intervention, calling for coordinated efforts involving education authorities, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders.
“SGBV remains a common concern requiring collective efforts from the police, education authorities, parents, communities, and other stakeholders to effectively address it,” Barlingar said.
The UNPOL delegation, which included Acting Capacity Building and Development Team Leader PA Benny Simpasa, also highlighted the need for greater awareness of early child marriage and its social and educational consequences.
State Minister of General Education and Instruction Hon. Patric Riruyo acknowledged that SGBV and early child marriage remain challenges in Western Equatoria, attributing them to a combination of poverty, limited awareness, harmful cultural practices, social norms, inadequate parental guidance and negligence.
The minister’s assessment points to socioeconomic and cultural factors that continue to expose children, particularly girls, to risks that can disrupt their education and limit their future opportunities.
Riruyo said efforts to address early child marriage must therefore extend beyond schools and involve families and communities where many of the decisions affecting children's lives are made.
He recommended that UNPOL conduct its proposed sensitization campaign in close consultation with the Education Ministry, particularly through schools and communities.
“UNPOL should conduct the sensitization programme in close consultation and coordination with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, particularly through schools and communities,” Riruyo said.

27/08/2026

The Government of Japan and the World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday signed a US$2.2 million agreement to support lifesaving nutrition assistance for vulnerable women and children across South Sudan.
The signing ceremony was spearheaded by Hiromoto Oyama, Chargé d’Affairs and Ms. Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Representative and Country Director for South Sudan.
According to the officials, the support came at a critical moment as more than half of South Sudan’s population faces acute food insecurity and funding shortages that threaten essential nutrition services.
During the the signing ceremony program, Mr. Oyama reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to stand with the people of South Sudan by focusing on the human security which emphasizes the importance of protecting the life, dignity and future of every individual.
"Japan will continue working with WFP and other partners to support the people of South Sudan and contribute to a more secure and resilient future," said Oyama.
Japan has provided over $37.7 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) operations in South Sudan since 2021 to combat severe food insecurity and malnutrition.
The Asian country also continue to deliver critical nutrition and food supplies to vulnerable populations, including women and young children facing acute food shortages in addition to educational and infrastructure support.

27/08/2026

Senior officials from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and from the opposition outfit National Democratic Movement (NDM) have called for stronger inter-party dialogue and cooperation, as the country approaches its first post-independence general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.
The call came during a meeting between SPLM Secretary General Dr. Akol Paul Kordit and NDM Chairman Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, in what the parties described as an effort to strengthen communication and cooperative relations between the two political parties.
The meeting carries added political significance as South Sudan prepares for elections after years of transitional governance and repeated delays.
According to the National Elections Commission, the December 22 vote is scheduled to mark the country's first general elections since independence in 2011. The electoral body has been engaging political parties and other stakeholders on preparations for what it says should be a credible, inclusive and peaceful process.
During the meeting, SPLM Secretary for Political Affairs, Mobilization and Organization, Ambassador John Andurga Duku, urged the country’s political actors to reject confrontational politics and embrace dialogue as the principal means of resolving political differences.
Duku warned against a return to the use of violence, saying the country had already paid a heavy price for political disagreements being settled through armed confrontation.
“The people of South Sudan must steer clear of confrontational politics. Dialogue is the only viable path forward, and the heavy price paid for relying on fi****ms must never be repeated.”
His remarks come at a critical point in the country's political transition, with political parties expected to compete for votes while navigating unresolved issues arising from the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
The African Union has similarly urged South Sudanese political leaders to recommit to dialogue and consensus-building, while emphasizing that the peace agreement remains the principal framework for achieving sustainable peace and stability.
NDM Secretary General Hon. Joseph Bol Agau said reciprocal engagements between political parties are important in preventing political isolation and creating opportunities for parties with different positions to find common ground.
He said regular communication could help political actors understand each other's positions and develop practical solutions to national challenges.
The NDM is among the already registered political parties, with Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin listed as its chairman by the Political Parties Council.
Notably, the NDM party has previously raised concerns on the country's readiness for the December elections and called for an inclusive political dialogue to address outstanding issues.
In June, Lam Akol said his party was prepared to participate in the December polls provided that frameworks for a credible electoral process were established.

27/08/2026

The National Election Commission (NEC) has defended its preparations for the country’s forthcoming general elections, saying the electoral process is already underway and urged stakeholders to distinguish between previously approved funding for the Commission’s headquarters and the financial resources required to organise the December 2026 polls.
NEC Chairperson Prof. Abednego Akok said the Commission is currently seeking fresh operational resources to enable it to carry out election-related activities, insisting that money previously approved for the acquisition of an office building was separate from funds intended for the electoral process.
Prof. Akok made the clarification while responding to concerns surrounding the Commission’s preparedness and financing as South Sudan moves toward its planned general elections in December 2026.
According to the NEC chairperson, the Commission initiated plans to secure permanent accommodation in 2022, with approval for the purchase of a new building coming in 2023. Funding for the building, he said, was subsequently allocated over several years.
“I want people to make the difference between the building and the election resources. We are now asking for current resources which should be used for preparation for the election,” Prof. Akok said.
He said the funds allocated for the building should therefore not be considered part of the resources currently required to conduct the elections.
NEC says election preparations have already started, as Prof. Akok rejected suggestions that preparations for the December 2026 elections have yet to begin, saying the electoral process is implemented in stages rather than launched on a single day.
He pointed to voter and civic education as among the activities already initiated by the Commission.
The NEC has launched voter education activities at its headquarters, while State High Electoral Committees have also begun taking the message to communities.
“Election in the process doesn't begin in one day. It goes step by step. We have already launched voter education at the headquarters, and the State High Electoral Committee has also made its launch,” he said.
The Commission is expected to undertake a series of technical and public-awareness activities as the country moves closer to the polls, including voter education, registration-related activities, logistical preparations and coordination with other institutions involved in the electoral process.
Prof. Akok's remarks suggest that the Commission sees voter education as an important early component of the electoral process.
Despite insisting that preparations are progressing, the NEC chairperson made clear that the Commission requires additional resources to undertake its election mandate effectively.
He distinguished the Commission's institutional expenditure from its electoral budget, saying resources used to address accommodation needs over previous years should not be interpreted as money available for election preparations.
The clarification comes as South Sudan's electoral institutions face the challenge of preparing for a nationwide election involving national and subnational positions.

27/08/2026

The government has ordered the immediate removal of roadblocks and clearance bottlenecks at Mabil Checkpoint on the outskirts of Juba after more than 200 trucks carrying essential goods, including fuel, were reportedly stranded along the route.
The intervention followed a high-level engagement led by Dr. Labanya Mathya, the Minister for Trade and Industry, who is also a member of the high-level committee on economic reform. The minister said the prolonged delays is contributing to shortages and increasing the cost of goods for consumers.
Mathya said the affected trucks had already been cleared, with many coming from the Nimule border, but were unable to proceed toward their destinations because of multiple security and administrative checkpoints.
“Every cost that is imposed on these traders is returned back to the consumers, and that is what is causing a lot of the economic challenges,” Mathya said.
According to the minister, the trucks included vehicles transporting flammable materials such as fuel, raising concerns over shortages in areas where the supplies were urgently needed.
She said the government decided to intervene at Mabil after realizing that addressing delays at the Nimule border alone would have little impact if trucks continued to face obstacles closer to Juba.
Mathya said the number of trucks reported to be stuck at Mabil had exceeded 200 by Tuesday afternoon.
The trucks were reportedly destined for different parts of South Sudan after completing clearance procedures at Nimule, the country's major border crossing with Uganda.
The delays, according to the minister, is affecting the movement of commodities and creating additional costs for traders.
She warned that such costs eventually reach consumers through higher prices.
“If your population cannot get what they need to get, or they get it at a price higher than what is expected, that would really cause a lot of discomfort,” she said.

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