Two suspects arrested in killing of MP Luka Mathen in Juba

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of Council of States member Luka Mathen, who was shot dead on Tuesday night at his residence in Juba’s Gudele neighborhood. According to security sources, unidentified gunmen stormed Mathen’s home and shot him inside his own compound, killing him on the spot. The attackers fled […]
Magwi commissioner bans tramadol sales, charcoal export

Magwi County Commissioner Pole-pole Benjamin Olum has issued two sweeping local orders banning the sale of Tramadol and the export of charcoal, in a move aimed at curbing rising drug abuse among youth and halting widespread illegal logging in the area. The directives, signed on 8 December 2025, impose strict penalties on pharmacies, drug shops, […]
Health ministry backs KCBDI as model for national blood safety

The National Ministry of Health has thrown its weight behind the Kajo-Keji Community Blood Donors’ Initiative (KCBDI), praising it as a model that could transform South Sudan’s fragile blood supply system and help avert preventable deaths across the country. The endorsement came on Sunday during KCBDI’s Second Annual Meet-and-Greet at Epatha Primary and Secondary School, […]
Paramilitary forces take control of Sudanese largest oil hub

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly seized control of the country’s largest oil hub, the Heglig field, on Monday, forcing all staff to evacuate across the border into South Sudan, according to an engineer at the facility. The Heglig field, located in the southern Kordofan region, is a vital processing and export hub for […]
Tramadol’s deadly comfort: Inside the drug epidemic swallowing youth

Nelson Mandela (not his real name) holds the handlebars of his boda boda, his eyes focused but distant. At 26, he is one of many young men in Juba battling not just the brutal competition of the city’s transport sector, but a growing addiction to Tramadol. For Nelson, the drug isn’t merely about getting high, […]
‘When I woke up, they were gone’: Nyabol’s desperate search for lost family in Sudan War

Nyabol Alor Chola, a 33-year-old South Sudanese mother, endured a horrific ordeal during a violent raid targeting foreign nationals in Khartoum. Her husband and two eldest sons were forcibly taken. When she attempted to resist, armed forces shot her twice in the legs and struck her head with a gun. She was unconscious for hours. […]
South Sudan marks International Day of Persons with disabilities with fresh push for inclusion

South Sudan on Tuesday joined the global community in marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, using this year’s celebration to renew calls for stronger inclusion, representation, and access to services for people with disabilities across the country. The event, held in Juba, brought together government officials, disability rights groups, development partners, and community […]
Mundri children pay price as renewed fighting cripples schools, safety

Renewed fighting between South Sudan’s opposing forces has left a generation of children in Mundri East County paying a heavy price. Since clashes erupted in late September, schools have been closed, communities displaced, and the safety of children severely compromised, leaving families and educators desperate for a return to peace. The clashes that began in […]
After months of advocacy on employment matters: Youth volunteer becomes Rumbek town mayor

For months, the Rumbek Youth and Sports Association (RYSA) has been at the forefront of a spirited campaign, urging the Lakes State government to prioritize youth employment. Their message was simple but powerful: talented, educated young people across the state remain idle not because they lack skills, but due to lack of opportunities. In most […]
Justice for sale: Mothers expose bribery and abuse in Juba cells

At 56, Agnes Awadia carries the memory of her son’s arrest like a wound that refuses to heal. Ben, unarmed and with no gang ties, was swept up during a police crackdown and pushed into the dim cells where freedom often depends less on justice than on payment. It began on a humid July evening […]