South Sudan | African News Today

Pope Francis Postpones Trip To DR Congo, South Sudan

11Jun

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Congo, News, Religion

Pope Francis Postpones Trip To DR Congo, South Sudan

Pope Francis has had to cancel an upcoming visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan because of a knee injury, the Vatican has announced. The head of the Catholic Church was scheduled to travel in July to the Congolese cities of Kinshasa and Goma, followed by a visit to South Sudan’s capital Juba. In Juba he was to lead a prayer vigil with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Rev Iain Greenshields. Read Also: Pope’s July Visit To Africa To Go Ahead Despite Health Issues The Vatican said the visit would take place at "a later date to be determined". The decision had been made "at the request of [the Pope's] doctors, and in order not to jeopardise the results of the therapy tha...

Pope’s July Visit To Africa To Go Ahead Despite Health Issues

29May

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Congo, News, Religion, Security, Violence

Pope’s July Visit To Africa To Go Ahead Despite Health Issues

Pope Francis is set to make a gruelling trip to two African countries in July despite knee problems that have forced him to use a cane and wheelchair in recent weeks. The Vatican issued a full programme on Saturday for the July 2-7 trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. There had been speculation the pope's visit to Africa might be postponed, as was a trip to Lebanon scheduled for June. The 85-year-old pope has been undergoing treatment for knee pain, believed to be caused by a torn ligament. The trip's pace suggests the Vatican expects the pope's condition to improve in the next month, although officials say privately that he likely will use a wheelchair at least some of the time. The visit includes thousands of miles of travel, five flights and at least a...

Scores Dead as Plane Crashes in South Sudan

22Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Aviation, Breaking News, News

Scores Dead as Plane Crashes in South Sudan

Scores of people are believed to have died in South Sudan after a cargo plane that took off from airport in Juba crashed. Eight people were on board the plane that belongs to South west Aviation which was heading to Northen Bahr el Ghazal state, Kur Kuol Director of Juba International Airport said. Kuol said, “Eight people were on board and I still don’t have details about the number of people died in the crash.” Six dead bodies were seen on the ground and one injured person was rushed to hospital, eyewitnesses say. Source: CTGN

U.S Gives Conditions for Lifting Sanctions Imposed on South Sudan

18Jul

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Security, Sudan, United Nations, United States of America

U.S Gives Conditions for Lifting Sanctions Imposed on South Sudan

The United States has asked South Sudan to intensify its efforts at achieving sustainable peace and kicking out corruption if arms embargo and other sanctions imposed on the country would be lifted. It was disclosed by outgoing ambassador of the U.S to South Sudan, Thomas Hushek. Hushek was quoted by BBC to have said that South Sudan has to work on a “reduction in level of violence and corruption” in the system for the sanctions to be lifted. Arms embargo on South Sudan was extended in May by the United Nations Security Council for a duration of one year to block the flow of weapons to armed groups in the country. South Sudan has been embroiled in violence lasting more than six years, leading to the killing of tens of thousands and rendering millions of others homeless. The ...

South Sudan Suspended from African Union over Failure to Pay $9m Membership Debt

21Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, News, Sudan

South Sudan Suspended from African Union over Failure to Pay $9m Membership Debt

The African Union (AU) has suspended South Sudan from the continental body over failure to meet up with their financial obligations over a three-year period amounting to over 9 million U.S. dollars. The suspension was confirmed in a letter from South Sudan’s mission to Ethiopia to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday attributing it to failure to pay its membership dues for three consecutive years. Hakim Edward, deputy Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, noted that the suspension does not totally invalidate South Sudan’s membership but would only exempt it from meetings until the debts are paid. South Sudan has been a member of AU from July 2011. In a statement last week, Edward said, “We would like to confirm to the public that South Sudan is one of the countries t...