Date: Monday, 5th October 2026. Time: 6:00 o’clock. Welcome to the Access Radio Evening News Bulletin.
(YEI COUNTY) – Teachers in Yei River County are calling for improved salaries, better working conditions and enhanced professional training as the world commemorates World Teachers’ Day today, Monday the 5th of October 2026.
The educators say delayed salaries, financial hardship and limited opportunities for professional development are placing increasing pressure on teachers, forcing some to leave the profession in search of better livelihoods.
Speaking on the occasion, a teacher at Jigomony Primary School, Daniel Ariak Michael, described teaching as more than a profession, calling it a duty to shape the country’s future generation.
Meanwhile, Latio Emmanuel Joel, the Administration and Finance Officer at Yei Day Senior School, said government-employed teachers at the school have gone eight months without receiving salaries, making it difficult for them to provide for their families.
According to Joel, about ten teachers have already left the profession in search of better opportunities.
Teachers also appealed for regular training and capacity-building programmes, saying continuous professional development is crucial to improving the quality of education.
They urged the government and education stakeholders to prioritise teachers’ welfare by ensuring timely salary payments and creating more opportunities for professional growth.
Despite the challenges, Joel said many teachers remain committed to educating children because they believe education is key to building a better future for South Sudan.
The Deputy Director for Education in Yei River County also encouraged teachers not to abandon the profession despite the hardships they face.
He also expressed appreciation to parents for their continued support to schools through small contributions that help cover basic operational costs.
The education official noted that authorities were unable to organise a major World Teachers’ Day celebration this year due to existing challenges but expressed optimism that teachers would prepare early and celebrate together next year.
As World Teachers’ Day is marked across the globe, teachers in Yei are calling on the government and partners to take teachers’ welfare seriously, strengthen support systems and invest in professional development.
They say supporting teachers is essential to improving the quality of education and securing a brighter future for children in Yei River County and South Sudan as a whole.
(MOROBO COUNTY) – Traders in Morobo County have called on the newly appointed caretaker commissioner to prioritise security and create a conducive business environment to enable commerce and cross-border trade to flourish.
Morobo County, located in Central Equatoria State, is strategically positioned along key trade routes linking South Sudan with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it an important commercial gateway for the region.
Moses Khamis, a trader based in Kaya Town, said local business people expect the new county leadership to improve security and support trade activities.
He noted that a secure and enabling business environment would boost local revenue collection through taxation and contribute to improved service delivery and development.
Another trader, Alice Modo Richard, welcomed the appointment of the new caretaker commissioner and expressed hope for sustained peace and business reorganisation.
Kenyi Timon, a regular trader in Bazi, said Morobo possesses strong potential for economic recovery if peace and favourable business conditions are maintained.
Local traders believe improved security, protection of businesses and stronger trade facilitation will help attract investment, stimulate economic growth and enhance livelihoods across Morobo County.
(JUBA) – The South Sudan Artistes Union has received studio equipment worth $11,000 (about 71.5 million South Sudanese pounds) donated by Tiger Division Commander Major General Atem Salva Kiir.
The equipment was handed over to the union at its headquarters at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre over the weekend.
The donation is expected to support the setting up of a recording studio that will provide free or affordable recording services to fully registered members of the union.
Nyambura Kenyi, Secretary General of the South Sudan Artists Union, thanked the donor for supporting the initiative.
Kenyi said preparations are already under way to install the equipment and prepare the studio for recording.
The union says the studio will mainly serve artists who cannot afford the cost of recording music in commercial studios.
Kenyi said the initiative will have a big impact on local artists and the wider community.
According to Kenyi, artists who cannot afford recording fees will be allowed to use the studio, while those who can afford it may contribute towards production costs.
(MOROBO TOWN) – South Sudanese returnees from neighbouring Uganda have appealed to President Salva Kiir’s caretaker administration to restore peace and stability as the country moves towards the December 2026 general elections.
The returnees say worsening living conditions in refugee settlements have compelled many families to voluntarily return home despite ongoing challenges, with many expressing hope that lasting peace will allow them to rebuild their lives and participate in the country’s democratic process.
Among them is Alfred Bidal, who recently resettled in Morobo Town after spending several years in Uganda’s Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement.
Bidal said deteriorating conditions in the camp, including shortages of food and medicine, influenced his decision to return home and resume farming.
Another returnee, who identified himself only as Arike, said communities are seeking sustainable development rather than humanitarian assistance.
In Yei Town, Emmanuel Mabe, who returned two months ago, described his joy at coming back home after years in exile but stressed that security remains the most urgent need for returning families.
The appeals come at a critical time as South Sudan prepares for its first elections since independence. On 22nd September 2026, President Salva Kiir dissolved the national cabinet and parliament, a move aimed at paving the way for citizens to elect their leaders in the December polls.
(WAU) – A cassava flour processing project has been launched in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, in an effort to tackle economic hardship, improve food security and support self-reliance through locally available crops.
The project is led by Ya Mama Goum and supported by CORWADO, the Consortium of Rural Women for Agribusiness Development Organization, according to a statement issued in October 2026.
It is funded through the Localized Approaches to Food System Transformation project, known as LAST, which is financed by the Government of Norway.
CORWADO said it was proud to support the launch, describing the initiative as part of wider efforts to address economic challenges, promote food security and strengthen self-reliance using locally available crops.
The newly packaged cassava flour will soon be available at affordable prices for families, individuals, local traders and vulnerable households in local markets.
CORWADO said it looked forward to seeing the project contribute to improved food security, better livelihoods and increased use of locally produced agricultural resources in communities.
The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Juba is a partner in the initiative.
The launch comes as South Sudan continues to face severe food insecurity and high food prices. The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme warned in February 2026 that rising food prices and climate shocks would likely push more people into acute food insecurity during the April to July lean season.
(NAIROBI) – Piracy has returned to the western Indian Ocean, with six commercial ships hijacked off the Horn of Africa since April 2026, threatening to raise import costs for Kenya and landlocked neighbours including South Sudan.
The shipping industry lifted East Africa’s high-risk label in January 2023 after more than a decade of relative calm. No decision to restore it has been announced.
Six ships have been seized since April. One of them, the MV Sward, was carrying fertilizer to Mombasa when it was taken on 26th April. It was held for about 138 days before being freed in September after a reported ransom.
The International Maritime Organization said in August that more than 90 seafarers were being held captive. It has recorded at least 15 attacks in the region this year, the most since 2013.
Five of the six ships are now free. Puntland security sources say ransoms were paid for the Sward and another vessel, although the Somali federal government says the latter was freed by Turkish and Somali forces.
The Cibuan was recovered in late September. On 29th September, Puntland police recovered the Honour 25 and the Eureka.
One tanker, the Asana, is still being held with 22 crew on board. The vessel was hijacked on 17th July about 65 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla, Yemen, while carrying oil products to Bosaso.
The shipping industry lifted East Africa’s high-risk label in 2023. No decision to restore it has been announced.
(KHARTOUM) – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called for medical teams and essential supplies to be deployed in advance to areas of Sudan considered at high risk of cholera outbreaks.
The medical charity said in a Facebook post that early deployment was necessary to ensure a rapid response in vulnerable communities and limit the spread of the disease.
MSF also stressed the need to protect civilians and critical infrastructure while guaranteeing humanitarian teams safe and unhindered access to affected populations without delays.
The organisation said Sudan experienced the largest cholera outbreak in its history between 2024 and 2025, with the disease spreading across all 18 states.
Sudan’s health system has been severely weakened by the ongoing war, with damaged hospitals, shortages of medicines and disrupted water and sanitation services increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly in displaced and conflict-affected communities.
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