Lakes State Launches Measles Vaccination Campaign

Authorities in Lakes State have launched a 10-day Measles vaccination campaign targeting 297,867 children from 6 months to 5 years. This initiative comes after the State recorded 72 measles cases in various counties, including Rumbek centre, Wulu, Rumbek East, and Cueibet.

Measles Outbreak

Dr. Maker Malok Chieny, Director General of the State Ministry of Health, expressed concerns about the increasing cases of measles in the state. He mentioned that there have been 32 cases in Rumbek East, 27 in Rumbek Central County, 12 in Cueibet County, and 1 in Wulu County. Complications such as pneumonia and blindness have been observed in affected children.

Call for Action

Dr. Chieny appealed to the national Ministry of Health to recruit more vaccinators to reach the community quickly and effectively. Poth Majak Daljang, the State Minister of Agriculture, commended the efforts of the national Ministry of Health and health partners in supporting the vaccination program.

UNICEF’s Commitment

UNICEF Health Officer, Dr. Kawa Koul Tong, emphasized UNICEF’s commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Health to provide essential health services. He stressed the importance of vaccinating all children against measles to prevent the spread of this potentially fatal disease.

Overall, the vaccination campaign aims to protect children in Lakes State from measles and its severe complications. Families are encouraged to bring their children to designated vaccination sites to ensure their safety and well-being.

Uganda Declares End to Ebola Outbreak

Uganda has declared an end to the Ebola outbreak, less than three months after the so-called Sudan virus disease (SVD) subtype was confirmed in the capital Kampala, where a dozen cases were confirmed.

Outbreak Details

The country’s health ministry said on April 26 that the Ebola outbreak “has officially come to an end” after 42 days without a new case since the last confirmed patient was discharged on March 14 2025.

During the outbreak, 14 cases including 12 confirmed through laboratory tests, were reported, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Four deaths deaths occurred and ten people recovered from the infection, while 534 people were identified as having been in contact with the confirmed and probable cases and were closely monitored.

Response Efforts

The last confirmed patient was discharged on 14 March 2025, triggering the 42-day countdown to officially declare the end of the outbreak, in line with WHO guidelines.

Declared on 30th January 2025, this was Uganda’s second Ebola outbreak in less than three years. The UN health agency stated that it mobilized around 130 national and international staff to help in case investigation, contact tracing, laboratory diagnostics, and case management.

WHO also said it has facilitated the deployment of Emergency Medical Teams and anthropologists to reduce stigma, build trust and work with affected communities, which was critical in driving behavior change.

International Support

U.S. Ambassador to Uganda William W. Popp said 75 American government experts worked with the Ugandan health ministry to contain the outbreak, adding that Washington contributed $8 million for the health emergency.

“The U.S. is proud to have had more than 75 U.S. government experts work shoulder to shoulder with the Ministry of Health of Uganda since the first day of the outbreak, share state-of-the-art health treatments, and contribute nearly $8M to stop this outbreak and make U.S., Uganda and the world safer,” Mr. Popp said.

“We will continue our support with a Health and Human Service donation of 500 rapid tests for ongoing surveillance and prevention.”

A Nation at a Crossroads

South Sudan on the brink of civil war once again reminds the world of the fragile dream born with so much hope on July 9, 2011. After decades of struggle against Sudanese rule, independence was supposed to bring peace, prosperity, and unity. Instead, old wounds, tribal loyalties, and political ambitions have reopened, threatening to undo the sacrifices of generations.

Today, with violence flaring between factions loyal to President Salva Kiir and those associated with former Vice President Riek Machar, South Sudan stands at a defining moment. Will it succumb to another devastating civil war, or will it find a new path forward? The answer will shape the destiny of Africa’s youngest nation for decades to come.

The Deep Roots of Conflict: A History Back to 1950

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan during official event

To understand South Sudan’s current crisis, one must travel back to the early 1950s. British colonial administrators, facing demands for Sudanese independence, ignored deep cultural, religious, and ethnic divisions between the Arab-Muslim north and the African-Christian south.

In 1956, Sudan gained independence. Almost immediately, tensions exploded. Southern Sudanese, who had little political representation, faced Arabization policies that marginalized their identity, language, and religion. By 1955, even before official independence, the First Sudanese Civil War had begun, lasting until 1972.

The Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972 provided autonomy for the south but failed to address deeper grievances. When President Jaafar Nimeiry attempted to impose Islamic law nationwide in 1983, the Second Sudanese Civil War erupted, leading to over two million deaths and four million displacements over 22 brutal years.

The Rise of SPLM/A

Emerging from the chaos was the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), founded by Dr. John Garang. Garang envisioned a “New Sudan” of equality, not immediate secession. However, divisions even within the SPLM/A soon emerged, notably between Garang’s vision and the more secessionist agenda of others, including Riek Machar.

These early splits sowed seeds of mistrust that still haunt South Sudanese politics.

Independence and the Birth of a Fragile State

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 ended the civil war, granting the south autonomy and setting the stage for a referendum. Tragically, Dr. Garang died shortly after in a helicopter crash, removing a unifying figure.

In 2011, an overwhelming 98.83% of South Sudanese voted for independence. The Republic of South Sudan was born in a moment of euphoria, but with fragile institutions, an underdeveloped economy, and deep-seated ethnic divisions.

The Descent into Internal Conflict

Riek Machar Addressing South Sudan Crisis

The Kiir-Machar Power Struggle

Initially, President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar promised a broad-based government. Yet political rivalry and ethnic tension simmered beneath the surface: Kiir, a Dinka; Machar, a Nuer.

In 2013, amid accusations of an attempted coup by Machar’s allies, violence erupted in Juba. What began as a political struggle quickly spiraled into an ethnic bloodbath.

The South Sudanese Civil War (2013–2018) displaced four million people and killed nearly 400,000. Entire towns were razed. Neighbors turned against each other. The young nation plunged into despair.

The 2018 Peace Agreement: A Fragile Hope

The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) in 2018 created a unity government. Machar returned as Vice President. Hopes rose, but implementation lagged. Key provisions—security sector reforms, constitutional review, elections—stalled.

Meanwhile, economic hardship deepened, fueled by corruption, declining oil revenues, and international aid fatigue.

The Current Crisis: 2025 and Beyond

Recent reports show rising tensions in Upper Nile State, Jonglei, and other regions. Factions loyal to both Kiir and Machar are rearming. Minor clashes have escalated into major skirmishes. Civilians are again fleeing into the bush.

According to the World Food Programme, over 7 million South Sudanese face severe food insecurity in 2025. Meanwhile, UNHCR reports that over 2.2 million people remain displaced within the country’s borders. The World Health Organization warns of escalating cholera outbreaks compounding the crisis. The overall humanitarian situation, as outlined by UN OCHA, impacts over 9.4 million South Sudanese civilians today.

Root Causes Behind Today’s Violence

• Unaddressed Historical Grievances: Colonial-era divisions and decades of war left deep scars.
• Ethnic Politics: Power is often seen through tribal lenses, not national unity.
• Weak Institutions: Courts, police, and government ministries are weak or politicized.
• Oil Dependency: Competition over control of oil fields fuels tensions.
• Lack of Reconciliation: Perpetrators of past atrocities have rarely been held accountable.
• External Meddling: Neighboring countries have often supported different factions for their own interests.

The Way Forward: Breaking the Cycle

1. National Dialogue Must Be Real, Not Cosmetic

A genuine, inclusive dialogue involving grassroots leaders, women, youth, religious leaders, and elders—not just political elites—is crucial.

2. Transitional Justice

Truth commissions, local justice initiatives, and hybrid courts must address past atrocities. Without accountability, there can be no trust.

3. Build National Identity

Civic education promoting “South Sudanese” identity over tribal affiliation must be introduced, especially in schools.

4. Diversify the Economy

Dependency on oil exports fuels corruption and competition. Investment in agriculture, education, and infrastructure will empower local economies and reduce grievances.

5. Empower Women and Youth

Women and youth made up the majority of victims and fighters. They must be at the center of any peacebuilding and leadership efforts.

A Message to the Future Generation of South Sudan

Young South Sudanese man proudly carrying national flag

To the young men and women of South Sudan:

You are not the prisoners of the past. You are the architects of tomorrow. Tribalism, hatred, and revenge are legacies you do not have to inherit.

Imagine a South Sudan where a child’s future is determined not by their tribe, but by their dreams. Imagine cities where Dinka, Nuer, Azande, Bari, and Murle live side by side, not as rivals but as brothers and sisters.

You can break the cycle.

Reject the politics of warlords. Reject the manipulation of identity. Build schools, not militias. Create art, not armies. Plant seeds, not landmines.

The world is watching. But more importantly, your children and grandchildren will be watching. What will you leave them?

You can leave them a nation reborn.

Conclusion: Hope Amid the Ashes

South Sudan’s story is not yet finished. Though the drums of war beat ominously, the song of peace can still rise.

It will not be easy. Forgiveness must overcome hatred. Courage must silence fear. Wisdom must replace blind ambition.

But the same spirit that carried South Sudanese through decades of struggle can carry them through this dark hour into a new dawn.

From the ashes of pain can rise a country that proves to the world—and to itself—that the dream of South Sudan is alive.

And it is worth fighting for, not with bullets, but with hope.