By Deng Chol In South Sudan, education is supposed to be a right for every child, yet, in reality, it has become a privilege enjoyed by a few who can afford it. As private schools continue to grow in strength and reputation, majority of children, especially from poor and[Read More…]
OpEd
South Sudan’s true flag finally takes center stage
By Agany Jeremiah For many years, a large number of South Sudanese have unknowingly celebrated Independence Day using the wrong version of our national flag. But this year marks a powerful shift as 99% of citizens proudly raised and celebrated under the correct, official flag of South Sudan. In[Read More…]
What really happened to the Akon City project?
In 2018, Akon, American born singer of Senegalese origin, announced plans for a futuristic African city and it was expected to cost $6 billions. Akon had imagined an Africa that was so beautiful that anyone can make it without having to work harder. He left behind his successful career as[Read More…]
Two brothers, gone in a single car crash
On June 22nd, just days ago, the world stood for a promising young man who had everything ahead of him, life and a whole lot of beautiful things. Diogo Jota, a talented soccer player who played for Liverpool, as he walked down the aisle to marry the love of his[Read More…]
When the proud and the broken dance in the same square
By Isaac Chol Aguer “There’s nothing more dangerous than the growth of that parasitic weed called pride…” Nietzsche said that long before a country called South Sudan existed. But if he were to pass through our streets today, he’d nod in understanding. Pride? Yes. We are a country of[Read More…]
The legend of Unity
By Gabriel Patrick Lagu Maybe we are still badly distorted with the illusion of freedom or still Arabised, who knows? The selfish ones could be hindering the real life of a free South Sudan….. Whatsoever! Real Nationalism lies in the depths of the hearts which belongs to those who[Read More…]
National Deportation… and Garbage Smuggling
By Isaac Aguer In a country like ours, we’ve long grown used to being raw materials for international headlines. A famine here, a clash there, and a side story about a little boy dancing to a traditional tune in a torn pair of trousers in a forgotten village —[Read More…]
Is success more about luck or hard work?
We have been told several times, that if you are running after something, all you need is just work for it. Wake up before the sun rises and work harder than everyone else, and someday, just maybe, you will make it. That is what motivational speakers tell us. It is[Read More…]
Happy South Sudan Independence Day Anniversary 2025
By James Aniceto Batikayo I had the honor to attend the first peace talks in 2012 at Addis Ababa and the talks that culminated in the Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R. ARCSS) 2018. In this regard, I wish on this big historic occasion of[Read More…]
Skin Bleaching: A Path to Harm and Identity Loss
By Philip Lako Beauty, while often linked to self-worth, is deeply subjective. Yet when perception is shaped by insecurity or misinformation, it can lead to harmful practices, such as skin bleaching. Skin bleaching involves the use of chemicals on the body to lighten the skin. Many are becoming familiar[Read More…]
“We were children of the Struggle, now we beg on the streets”
By Deng Chol When our country celebrates its independence anniversary it does so with thousands of South Sudanese gathering in Dr. John Garang Memorial Museum every 9-July, flags, and official speeches, praising the brave men and women who brought us freedom. But for those of us who were born[Read More…]
July 8th; The night before we remember who we Are
By Isaac Chol Aguer Tomorrow, the flags will rise again. The drums will beat. The anthem will echo through streets, markets, villages, and homes – even in Abyei, where our flag waits to fly unchallenged. It will remind us of a day when a long and bitter journey gave[Read More…]
Not all friends are friends; some are poison in disguise
By Benjamin Ajuong Machiek Malek In life, we grow up believing in the beauty of friendship. We share our secrets, dreams, and burdens with those we call “friends.” We trust them. We cry with them. We laugh with them. But one day, a bitter truth hits you: not every[Read More…]
Nation Talks
South Sudan’s economy has been in distress for over a decade now but the way ahead still murky. The institutions overseeing the state of the economy have been trying to fix somethings, but their efforts appeared to be not succeeding in addressing the situation. This is being manifested in the[Read More…]
Inequalities between Taxation and Services in South Sudan; When taxes rain and services disappear
By Isaac Chol Aguer What falls from above is always carried by the ground. That’s a universal law no government or council can break. In South Sudan, we’ve perfected the role of the ground — enduring every sudden decision, power struggle, and tax initiative. But — to be fair[Read More…]
Empowering local farmers across South Sudan; the only solution to food insecurity
By Garang Garang Adim, In the quest for a self-sufficient and resilient South Sudan, the foundation lies squarely in the hands of its farmers. They are the custodians of the land, the stewards of the nation’s food security, and the drivers of economic growth. However, to unlock their full[Read More…]
Look at the birds of the air
I have seen, you are so frustrated about life, thinking everything is just against you. You have given up on everything. Your last option is anything that can take your life. You conclude suicide will solve your problems. You put your blames on witches. You think you are bewitched. It[Read More…]
When an onion is worth more than a degree
By Isaac Chol Aguer In my neighborhood, the price of onions changes faster than the price of loyalty. Yesterday, one cost 1,000 SSP. Today it’s 1,500 SSP. Tomorrow? Maybe your grandmother’s savings. I asked the vendor what happened. “The dollar,” he said. A powerful thing, this dollar. It can[Read More…]
Eat, My Sleeve, Before My Mouth: The tale of lawyers and brokers in the Republic of a Young Nation
By Isaac Chol Aguer In our beloved Republic of South Sudan — where prestige is measured by the number of neckties in your closet, not the number of books you’ve read — the legal profession has stopped being a profession. It’s now a bizarre hybrid of motorcycle sales, dubious[Read More…]
Two men who fought cancer with smiling faces
There are moments in life that leave you different. Not just emotionally deflated but completely changed. Your viewpoint changes, your heart softens, and suddenly, the things you used to worry about feel so small. One of those moments happened to me in 2023, in a hospital room in Egypt. That[Read More…]