The Star Post

The Senior Presidential Envoy, Adut Kiir Mayardit, on Wednesdy donated food and essential supplies to Gieda Orphanage.

A delegation led by Albino Kuek and Akon Bona delivered the items, which included 200 bags of assorted foodstuffs, 60 beds, 100 mattresses, and 100 bedsheets.

The orphanage houses over 200 children of deceased soldiers who contributed to the country's liberation.

Some of children are from poor families who cannot afford decent meals.

South Sudan’s education minister, Kuyok Abol Kuyok, stated that the declining academic standards among top-performing students is a growing national issue.

Kuyok informed UN Radio Miraya FM on Thursday that good number of students who graduate from secondary school with high grades are struggling to manage first-year university coursework, especially in engineering and medicine.

Kuyok, a lecturer at the University of Juba, characterized the situation as concerning and indicated that it highlights underlying issues within the secondary school system.

Governor of Western Equatoria State, James Al Teib Berapai, briefed President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday regarding security, governance, and ongoing initiatives aimed at maintaining stability in the state.

Governor Al Teib stated that relative calm has returned to the state.
He stated that the state government is making every effort to ensure that peace and stability continue to prevail, said in a statement shared on President Kiir's page.

Al Teib attributed the calm atmosphere to enhanced cooperation between the government, local communities, and security forces, which are part of the efforts to prevent insecurity and promote reconciliation.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit urged cabinet ministers from the Greater Upper Nile region to actively engage with the public to promote peace and stability.

Kiir made this call during a meeting with a section of Cabinet Ministers representing Upper Nile Region.

Kiir stated that regular visits by senior officials to their regions would help build public trust, promote the spread of peace messages, and enhance stability in the counties, Payams, Bomas, and villages.

Speaking to the Press following the meeting, the Minister of Roads and Bridges Peter Lam Both said they are prepared to go home and engage the locals on peace and development programs.

South Sudan announced on Wednesday that it has obtained 50 million dollars from the Green Climate Fund, along with an additional 2.8 million U.S. dollars in co-financing from the government of Japan to enhance climate resilience in the country.

The funds will go through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will support communities in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal and Warrap states.

Nigeria’s Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has resigned for health reasons, according to the presidential spokesperson. His departure comes amid a sharp rise in mass kidnappings, including a church attack in Kogi state where a pastor and several worshipers were abducted, and the kidnapping of about 30 women—among them a bride and wedding guests—in Sakoko. Around 490 people have been kidnapped across several states in the past two weeks. Former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa is reportedly set to replace Abubakar.

The trial of suspended first vice president and seven co-defendants adjourned until Friday, 21st November 2025 to allow prosecution to submit a full list of its witnesses.

The 22nd session was meant for witnesses to testify against the Machar and seven others facing alleged charges of treason, crimes against humanity, mass murder, terrorism, and destruction of property, arising from March 2025 assault on an army base in Nasir, which resulted in the deaths of Majur and dozens of soldiers.

The panel of judges were also expected t rule on the prosecution’s application for witness protection and the appointment of a court interpreter.

Dr. Sabri Wani Lado, a member of prosecution team told the court during 22nd session at Freedom Hall in Juba that they have 16 witnesses of which eight need protection while the remaining eight are able to testify openly.

Wani said out of 16 witnesses, one need translation and 8 can speak with interpreter.

Presiding Judge Dr James Alala Deng directed the prosecution to provide the complete list of witnesses so the court could determine who requires protection or language support.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal state minister of finance, Peter Akot Dut on Monday tabled a budget estimate of SSP 40 billion for the fiscal year 2025-2026 before state Legislative Assembly.

The budget is projected to be funded by a combination of national government grants and state-generated revenue.

SSP 8 billion will be generated from grant and transfer from national government, SSP 9 billion from state block grant and SSP 4 billion will come from sales of taxes.

SSP 16 billion is earmarked for education and SSP 1 billion for health and 448 million for infrastructure.

SSP 87 million earmarked as conditional grant education while SSP 16 million as conditional grant water.

SSP 58 million allocated for conditional grant animal resources and SSP 42 million for key priorities.

South Sudan’s Ministry of Transport has announced plans to recruit 400 new employees in a nationwide hiring drive aimed at addressing staffing shortages across its departments.

South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum confirmed on Thursday that it has requested a total of $2.5 billion in oil-backed loans from two international firms operating in the country.

‎Breaking News:
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‎President Salva Kiir Mayardit fired Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel as Vice President for Economic Cluster, as First Deputy Chairman of the SPLM, and dismissed him from National Security, demoting him from General to private.
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‎In separate decree, Kiir has sacked Simon Akuei as Commissioner General of South Sudan Revenue Authority and replaced with William Anyuon Kuol.

A prominent South Sudanese activists appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit to pardon and release Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, former Director General of the National Security Service’s Internal Security Bureau (ISB).

Gen. Akol Koor was disarmed and placed under house arrest in the Juba Nabari neighborhood in November 2024 following a violent standoff between his close personal security and security organs.

The heavy gunfire that erupted on 21st November at the residence of ex-Spy Chief Akol Koor left four people dead, including two servicemen and two civilians.

The two civilians were crushed to death by armored personnel carriers, of whom one was a student of the University of Juba and the other a lawyer; he did not disclose their names.

Two civilians were shot and wounded in the crossfire.

The fighting stemmed from a misunderstanding between the recently deployed SSPDF troops and his close personal security, according to SSPDF Maj. Gen. L*l Ruai Koang.

The authorities have not revealed what sparked the “misunderstanding” at the residence of Gen. Koor.