IGAD has announced that it is carrying out investigations into the recent fighting in Bentiu.

There have been clashes in Bentiu and its surrounding areas. However, the details are sketchy.

The IGAD envoys have condemned the fighting, saying it is a violation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

In a statement, IGAD says it will establish the details of the fighting and in their words “will expose the culprit”, responsible for the violation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

IGAD says the violations undermine the peace dialogue in Addis Ababa.

It expressed dismay that the fighting happened less than two days after the departure of a UN Security Council delegation from Juba.

The IGAD, which is mediating the peace talks in Addis Ababa, calls on both parties to respect the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and show full commitment to the peace process.

IGAD adds that military advances will only worsen the humanitarian situation and cause more destruction.

The County Commissioner of Aweil Center in Northern Bahr el Ghazal has urged Non-Governmental Organizations which had been operating locally to resume their activities.

Last month, a number of organizations stopped their activities in some payams of Aweil Center, citing insecurity as a reason in the area caused by SPLA soldiers who had deserted their base at Mapel in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.

The county commissioner for Aweil Center, Arkanjelo Uchu, said the county is calm. He asked operating NGOs to continue with their normal activities

“I want to tell them now that the area is calm and the defectors have left and there is nothing else,” said Mr Uchu.

If there are NGOs that want to help us then please come. It is only the footprints of defectors that were left in the area and some people got scared when they saw their footprints.”

Mr. Uchu called on residents who might have left their homes due to insecurity to return and continue with their normal lives.

An SPLA soldier in Division Three in Northern Bahr el Ghazal has shot dead a woman he mistakenly took for his wife.

The man blames his wife, saying she had taken their child to the clinic without consulting him.

The incident occurred at Majak Akoon primary healthcare center PHCC last night.

Police officer Agany Akol Wol said the man had intended to shoot his wife at the hospital gate but had shot another woman by mistake:

“The soldier was intending to threaten his wife while he was outside the hospital. He shot the gun while the door was closed,” Mr Wol described the incident.

“He shot another woman in the head and she died. And he left.

“He realized in the morning that he had killed someone when he was arrested.”

Mr Wol urged SPLA soldiers across the state to use guns to protect the territory of the Republic of South Sudan and civilians instead of killing people.

The new police commissioner of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Gen. Akot Deng, has warned against the arrest of people suspected of wanting to join the SPLA-in Opposition.

Gen. Deng, who served in Western Bahr el Ghazal State as police commissioner, took up his post as head of the NBG police force earlier this week.

Gen. Deng said in Aweil Town yesterday that his priority is to improve the security situation.

He warned against the unauthorized arrest of civilians, especially youth. His warning comes amid reports that youth were being detained over telephone conversations.

“I am not going to tolerate this and anybody who continues doing this, arresting people on suspicion that they want to join the SPLA-in opposition,” he cautioned.

Renegade General Dau Aturjuong who rebelled recently comes from the state.

“If a civilian has done something wrong then he/she has to be arrested and investigated to see whether he or she is guilty or not,” he continued.

“But any person, whether a soldier or police, who will continue to arrest people without reason, then that person has offended me.”

Gen. Deng called on the people of Northern Bahr El Ghazal to cooperate with him on issues that matter to them.

The office of the First lady has donated 12 Toyota Land Cruiser, Hardtops, to Warrap state Assembly’s female representatives on the occasion of their visit to Juba.

The chairperson of Warrap Assembly Women Focus, Adut Madut Akech, said they received the first six cars from Madam Ayen Mayardit.

“These vehicles were given in the women list in the Assembly only, not for counties, so that we cannot complain about transport again,” said Hon Adut.

She says the cars will enable them to visit their constituencies.

“We were elected as Women Focus in the Assembly and we didn’t have cars to visit our constituencies when there are crises there like diseases.”

Adut did not say when the women will receive the other six vehicles.

The World Health Organization is urging every parent in Awerial County, Lakes, to take their children to the nearest health center for vaccination against measles.

The WHO confirmed three cases of measles in Mingkaman after samples were taken to Juba for testing over the last two weeks.

The health cluster coordinator in Mingkaman, Nebiyu Sissay, says measles vaccination started last week following reports of suspected cases of measles in a cattle camp.

“The health facilities are ready to give routine immunization so parents should bring their children aged six months to 15 years for immunization,” said Mr Sissay.

He said over 1,000 children in both host and IDP communities had been vaccinated so far.

A mobile team is said to be sent to highland areas although some of the areas such as cattle camps are inaccessible due to lack of roads.

The few health workers at Akuem hospital in Aweil East County cannot cope with over 300 patients visiting the hospital daily, an official has said.

The medical officer in charge, Santino Garang Marach, says since the facility’s status changed in July from primary health care center to hospital, the number of patients has increased and staff are overwhelmed.

Mr Marach is the only medical officer at the health facility located in Yargot Payam.

“There are eleven staff in total and it is not good that such a big hospital should have this few workers,” he said.

“This hospital needs about 4 medical officers, 12 clinical officers, 20 nurses, 8 midwives and 6 lab technicians.”

Marach said the hospital building and fence also needed renovating.

He called on health partners to join the International Rescue Committee and contribute to the renovation work.

SPLA soldiers have been deployed in Mundri East County, Western Equatoria, to escort pastoralists back to Yirol County in Lakes State, an official has said.

The pastoralists moved to the county to avoid cattle raiding in Lakes and in search for good pastures for their animals.

Mundri East Commissioner Lekson Mabruk says there was tension last month between the cattle keepers and the local farmers, resulting into killing of one person and cows.

“As we are speaking now, the forces are in Amadi discussing with the cattle owners, the possibility of safely taking them back to Yerol West County,” Mr Mabruk told Eye Radio.

“I am sure they are going to leave by evening of today, and it is going to be a peaceful movement.”

He added that the local communities and the cattle owners have agreed that no compensation will be made for the loss of life and cattle.

Civil society groups at the ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa say the warring parties have ‘killed’ the hope and expectations of the people of South Sudan.

Though the peace talks are still ongoing, they say the government and the SPLM in Opposition have frustrated South Sudanese when they failed to reach an agreement at the end of the sixty-day period on Sunday.

Allokeir Malual, head of civil society groups from Juba, said the two parties did not respect the ceasefire agreements or the cessation of hostilities agreement.

Ms Allokeir urged the warring parties to stop the conflict so that the displaced and the refugees can return to their homes.

The parties are carrying on the peace talks in Addis Ababa.