An 18 year old student was shot by an unidentified gunman in Hai Delib, about four kilometres north of Yei Town Payam, on Tuesday evening. Police have opened a murder investigation. The victim, Martin Wani, a Senior Three student at Excel International Secondary School, was reportedly attacked while returning home from town at around 7pm. Local authorities said the assailant robbed him of his mobile phone before shooting him.
(YEI COUNTY) – A former youth leader in Yei River County has raised concern over what he describes as growing silence from community leaders, civil society organisations and rights groups amid reports of murder, robbery and rape in Yei Town.
Former Youth Leader Questions Silence Over Crime in Yei
In a statement shared publicly on his social media account on Thursday afternoon, Johnson Poru Hillary lamented the continued insecurity affecting residents and questioned the lack of public condemnation of violent crimes.
“The painful scourge of murder, robbery, and rape continues to bleed our town, our only town,” he wrote.
Poru highlighted the recent killing of a young boy, the late Martin Wani, 18 years old, a Senior Three student of Excel International School, saying the incident reflects a wider pattern of violence that has left many residents fearful and frustrated.
The former youth leader also criticised what he described as the silence of civil society organisations, human rights defenders and child protection groups in the face of ongoing insecurity.
According to Poru, the apparent lack of response from key stakeholders has fuelled feelings of helplessness among community members who are struggling to cope with repeated incidents of violence and insecurity, especially in Hai Delib and Luparate areas, north of Yei town.
He questioned who residents can turn to for support and accountability, suggesting that many people have become exhausted by years of insecurity and uncertainty.
His comments come amid continued concerns by residents over security challenges in parts of Yei River County, with calls for authorities, community leaders, civil society groups and humanitarian actors to strengthen efforts aimed at protecting civilians and promoting accountability.
Civil Society Condemns Killing of Yei Student, Demands Investigation
A civil society leader in Yei River County has condemned the killing of the Senior Three student, describing the incident as alarming and calling for swift investigations to bring those responsible to justice.
The victim, Martin Wani, 18 years, a resident of Hai Delib area, about four kilometres north of Yei town, was attacked by an unknown armed man at around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday while returning home from the town.
According to reports, the assailants robbed him of his mobile phone before shooting him in the back. He was rushed to Yei Civil Hospital, where he later died in the early hours of Wednesday.
Speaking to Access Radio via WhatsApp on Thursday evening, Modi Arkangelo, Chairperson of the Yei Civil Society Forum, condemned the killing and urged security authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable.
He also appealed to community members to remain vigilant and support efforts to curb crime, particularly during the night.
When contacted for comment, Yei River County Police Chief Inspector Major General Yoasa Lujang Kamba said he was attending a workshop and would provide a response later.
The civil society leader’s statement comes only hours after former Yei River County youth leader Johnson Poru Hillary raised concerns over what he described as the silence of authorities and civil society actors regarding growing security challenges affecting residents in parts of Yei town.
UK Priests Raise Funds for Kajo-Keji Health Centre
The Bishop of Blackburn will lead more than 50 clergy wearing their dog collars as they tackle a muddy assault course to raise money for a Harvest appeal.
The Right Reverend Philip North and his priest team will take on the challenge at the Whitehough Outdoor Centre in Barley, Lancashire.
The event will see them taking on a series of obstacles to support the Jehovah Rapha Healthcare Centre in the Diocese of Liwolo, Kajo-Keji County in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan.
All donations for the healthcare centre will help to fund medicines, healthcare, solar lighting, clean water and support for frontline medical staff serving communities in Liwolo.
According to the Burnley Express, the centre is facing a growing health crisis after Medecins Sans Frontieres announced plans to withdraw all services from the area by the end of 2026.
According to the Diocese of Blackburn website, support for the local health centre in Liwolo ends in September, while hospital services will stop in December. Without this support, many communities will have no access to healthcare.
The nearest medical facilities are hours away, and many families cannot reach them because of distance and cost.
East Africa Experts End Cybersecurity Summit in Juba
The National Communication Authority has concluded a three-day East African Communications Organization Working Group 3 meeting in Juba, bringing together telecommunications and cybersecurity experts from across the region to address key communication and digital security challenges.
The meeting, chaired by Eng. Unguec Stephen Kang, Vice Chair of Working Group 3 and NCA Assistant Director for Cybersecurity, focused on strengthening regional cooperation in cybersecurity, consumer protection and service quality.
During the discussions, delegates finalised regional frameworks for rapid cyber threat response among national Computer Emergency Response Teams, developed guidelines to safeguard users of digital financial services, advanced child online protection measures and agreed on standards to improve the quality of mobile data services across East Africa.
The NCA says the initiatives will help protect citizens from online fraud, ensure fair and reliable internet services and enhance the safety of children in the digital space.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Wednesday, Director of Corporate Affairs Mr. Dada Isaac Lemi commended participants for their commitment throughout the three-day meeting and urged member states to implement the agreed frameworks without delay.
According to the authority, the adoption of unified regional standards is expected to strengthen digital security and make mobile and internet services safer, more reliable and better suited to support economic growth and everyday communication across the region.
Ramaphosa Urges South Sudan to Free Political Prisoners
African Union leaders have called for the release of all persons held on political grounds in South Sudan, an end to hostilities, and the adoption of a consensual electoral roadmap ahead of the country’s first general elections.
The call came during a virtual Summit of the AU Committee on South Sudan Plus, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
President Ramaphosa apologised for postponing the meeting originally set for 16th September, explaining he had been unwell and advised by doctors to rest.
After welcoming AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit and other dignitaries, Ramaphosa praised the country’s leadership for its commitment to peace. He stressed that AU member states had a shared responsibility to support the nation.
Addressing the newly appointed AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Ramaphosa said: “We wish you well as you deploy your extensive expertise and considerable energies to assisting the government and the people of South Sudan.”
Kikwete was appointed to the role in March 2026 to support AU efforts in addressing political, peace and security challenges across the region, including advancing preventive diplomacy and facilitating inclusive political dialogue.
Ramaphosa noted that since the first C5 Plus Summit earlier this year, support for the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan had grown across the continent. He described the agreement as the only internationally recognised framework for the country’s transition.
He pointed to a volatile political landscape, citing recent developments including the dissolution of the Transitional Government on 22nd September 2026, amendments to the National Elections Act of 2012, and the start of the Inter-Party Political Dialogue on 24th September.
SSNBS Expands Presence at ISO General Assembly in Paris
South Sudan is reinforcing its engagement with the international standards community through the participation of the Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards, Hon. Oiylang Dominic Kanuto, at the International Organization for Standardization General Assembly in Paris, France.
The assembly, hosted by the French Association for Standardization, is being convened under the theme, “Building Trust in a Changing World.”
The event has brought together standards authorities, policymakers, industry leaders and private sector representatives from around the world to discuss the role of international standards in promoting quality, safety, innovation and sustainable development.
According to SSNBS, Hon. Kanuto is using the forum to engage with officials from ISO, the African Organisation for Standardisation and private sector stakeholders to exchange experiences, strengthen professional networks and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The bureau said the engagement provides South Sudan with an important platform to learn from global best practices while building strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening the country’s standards infrastructure and improving its integration into regional and international markets.
Participation in the gathering also reflects South Sudan’s commitment to fostering international cooperation and enhancing confidence in its quality assurance and standardization systems.
RSF Releases MSF Worker After Year-Long Detention in West Darfur
A Sudanese employee of Médecins Sans Frontières has been released after spending about a year in detention in West Darfur, local Sudanese media reported on Thursday.
The employee, who worked for the Spanish section of MSF, had been detained by the Rapid Support Forces on allegations of communicating with the Sudanese army and cooperating with hostile parties, according to sources cited by Darfur24.
The sources said he was arrested following an attack on the headquarters of the West Darfur civil administration in El Geneina that targeted the head of the administration, Tijani al-Tahir Karshoum.
Karshoum survived the attack, while three members of his entourage were killed.
According to the report, the MSF employee’s detention was also linked to an audio recording circulated on social media in which he discussed military drone strikes on El Geneina, Saraf Omra and Al Zurug.
The recording reportedly referred to the impact of the attacks and to injuries sustained by the head of the civil administration.
Sources told Darfur24 that investigators questioned the employee over alleged contacts with senior figures in the Sudanese army.
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