(YEI) – Access Radio Morning news bulletin Tuesday 6th October 2026.
Central Equatoria State is preparing for elections scheduled for 22nd December 2026, with local authorities directed to prioritise security, peace and voter readiness.
The directives were issued by Caretaker Governor Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani to caretaker County Commissioners before their departure to their areas of jurisdiction.
The commissioners were instructed to deliver on their mandates and to reach out to holdout groups to renounce violence and embrace the Presidential amnesty for peaceful return.
On cattle roaming, the Governor called for a unified mechanism to end cattle-related issues, particularly with neighbouring states and within Central Equatoria State.
He also directed the commissioners to tackle land grabbing, describing it as a persistent problem that must be brought to a complete end.
The Governor encouraged the commissioners to lead agricultural production as a way to end food insecurity, while peace and reconciliation efforts should continue as the country prepares for polls.
On the forthcoming elections, he directed local government structures to continue mobilising and preparing the public for the polls, as championed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
He called for unity among the commissioners as they steer the state on the path of peace, security and development.
While focusing on economic recovery, he said the Cooperative Society initiative should be rolled out across the counties.
He urged commissioners whose counties share a border with Uganda to build relationships with their Ugandan counterparts to restore good neighbourliness and deter land encroachment.
In response, the caretaker commissioners pledged to work collectively to fulfil the vision and mission of the state and to develop approaches to tackle challenges facing local communities.
The directives come at a crucial time as the state works to address numerous challenges facing communities while preparing for elections in December 2026.
Ministry of Health Says 850,000 Malaria Cases Treated Across South Sudan
More than 850,000 malaria cases were treated with first-line medicines across South Sudan in the first half of 2026, the Ministry of Health said.
The treatment was delivered through the Health Sector Transformation Project, known as HSTP.
The World Bank reported in March 2026 that the project has supported 816 health facilities through 28 implementing partners, with capacity building provided to 3,503 health workers in essential areas including emergency obstetric and neonatal care, infection prevention and integrated management of childhood illnesses.
The World Health Organization reported in August 2025 that UNICEF, through the HSTP, facilitated treatment of 1,268,701 cases with first-line antimalarial drugs, including 924,159 at health facilities and 344,542 in communities under the Boma Health Initiative programme.
Malaria remains the leading cause of illness in South Sudan. National Ministry of Health data show 3.8 million malaria cases were reported in 2024, with cases peaking during the rainy season from July to November, according to Médecins Sans Frontières.
The World Health Organization reported in August 2025 that malaria continues to be a major health challenge in South Sudan, with 5.5 million cases and over 4,000 deaths annually.
The 2023 malaria indicator survey showed a rise in malaria prevalence among children aged 6 to 59 months from 32 per cent in 2017 to 52.6 per cent in 2023, placing a heavy burden on the country’s fragile healthcare system, according to the World Health Organization.
Gudele West Access Road Opened by Juba County
The Caretaker Commissioner of Juba County, Moulana Kalisto Lado Foustino, has resumed official duties by opening an access road in Gudele West, commonly known as Kuburi Haboba.
The Commissioner visited the area and engaged the business community on the importance of opening and maintaining access roads as part of efforts to improve movement, business activities, sanitation, and the overall organisation of Juba County.
Addressing the business community, Commissioner Kalisto Lado stressed the need for shop owners to maintain proper standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
He encouraged businesses to properly enclose their shops, install appropriate glass or protective coverings, and ensure that goods are protected from dust, flies, and other sources of contamination.
The Commissioner further called upon residents and the business community to cooperate with the County Authority in implementing developmental initiatives and maintaining orderly public spaces.
The opening of the access road at Kuburi Haboba is part of the County’s efforts to improve accessibility and promote a more organised urban environment for residents and businesses.
The road had previously been the subject of a directive issued in July 2025 by the Governor of Central Equatoria State, who ordered an immediate halt to unauthorised land demarcation and allocation along public roads in Juba, including the route behind Kuburi Haboba extending towards Mary Queen Church.
According to Access Radio, the directive followed reports that portions of public roads were being demarcated and allocated to individuals as residential plots.
The Governor’s office said at the time that the roads should be preserved and used for their intended public purposes.
Commissioner Kalisto Lado was sworn in on Friday, 2nd October 2026, following his appointment by Central Equatoria State Caretaker Governor Augustino Wani Jadallah.
School Teachers Demand Better Pay in Yei
Teachers in Yei River County are calling for improved salaries, better working conditions, and enhanced professional training as the world commemorates World Teachers’ Day on 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.
“Quality comes with training and other related benefits.”
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.
SSOA Defends PPC Chair Over Registration of Seven Parties
The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) has defended Political Parties Council (PPC) Chairperson James Akol Zakayo against allegations by opposition leaders Dr. Lam Akol and Moro Isaac Genesio that he abused his powers by altering party leadership records and registering seven political parties after the June 30 deadline.
The alliance said Monday that the seven parties were not newly added to the register after the deadline, but were political movements that had started the registration process earlier and only completed outstanding requirements after relinquishing their military wings.
On September 30, Lam Akol, leader of the faction of National Democratic Movement (NDM), and Moro Isaac Genesio of the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), together with other opposition figures, accused the PPC chairperson of unilaterally changing the names of party leaders and adding seven parties to the register.
They also questioned the authority of the PPC chairperson to alter the official registration records.
The dispute followed circulation of a new list of registered political parties and the issuance of PPC Order No. 5 of 2026, which granted full registration and civilian political status to a number of political entities.
At a media briefing in Juba on Monday, SSOA Secretary General Changkuoth Bichiok Reth said the accusations against Akol were unfounded and that the seven parties had substantially completed their registration processes before the June 30 deadline.
Under the Political Parties Act, a political party must not use military or paramilitary formations to achieve its political objectives. The 2022 amendments specifically prohibit political parties from establishing covert or overt military formations, armed forces or paramilitary forces.
Bichiok said the seven party leaders publicly relinquished their military command in December 2025 and surrendered their forces to the country’s central military command.
Rubio Weighs In as Russia Plague Lockdowns Widen
The United States is closely monitoring a suspected plague incident in eastern Russia as quarantine measures and movement restrictions continue to spread across medical facilities in the Irkutsk region, despite Moscow insisting there is no confirmed plague outbreak.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Washington was watching developments “closely” following the death of 28-year-old Darya Shipilova, an employee of the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East.
President Donald Trump later said the United States was prepared to assist Russia if necessary, describing the situation as serious and saying Washington would help where it could.
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