Japan Defense Minister to Quit: Report

Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada will resign, broadcaster NHK said on Thursday, after a series of missteps, gaffes and a suspected cover-up that critics say contributed to a plunge in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's support.

Japan to withdraw troops from South Sudan

Japan will no longer maintain peacekeeping forces in South Sudan after May, according to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Le nouveau chef de l'ONU prône une "toute nouvelle approche" pour éviter les guerres

Le nouveau secrétaire général des Nations unies Antonio Guterres a prôné mardi une "toute nouvelle approche" pour prévenir les conflits armés, lors de sa première intervention devant le Conseil de sécurité depuis sa prise de fonctions début janvier.

Japan's troops ready to use force in South Sudan

Japan's self-defense forces have been allowed to use firearms and other weapons in peacekeeping missions in South Sudan.

South Sudan criticizes US proposal to impose sanctions

The South Sudanese government on Friday rejected United States' call for an arms embargo and sanctions on the war-torn country.

South Sudan: US seeks arms embargo via Security Council

The US has circulated to the UN Security Council a draft resolution to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and further targeted sanctions amid warnings by a senior UN official of possible genocide.

Death penalty: S.Sudan sentences 77 soldiers on murder, rape and looting charges

South Sudan Army (SPLA) on Friday convicted and sentenced 77 of its soldiers on charges of murder, rape and looting to imprisonment and death, its spokesman said.

Over 37,000 sheltering in UN site in South Sudan capital

About 37,200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are seeking protection at one of the two UN bases in South Sudan's capital Juba, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Wednesday.

South Sudan Government to Meet on New UN Resolution. The vote was 11 in favor with 4 abstentions

South Sudan's information minister says the government in Juba would soon meet to decide on a way forward following a decision by the U.N. Security Council authorizing a 4,000-member regional protection force for the capital, Juba.

South Sudan Rejects Regional Troop Deployment by UN

The South Sudan government says it rejects a draft resolution being circulated at the U.N. Security Council, calling for deployment of a regional protection force to Juba and other parts of the country wracked by violence.

US deploys 47 more troops to South Sudan to boost embassy security

The White House said on Wednesday the United States had sent additional US military personnel to South Sudan to boost security of the US embassy in the country.

Germany, Italy evacuating nationals, foreigners from South Sudan

Germany and Italy said Wednesday they were evacuating their nationals and other foreigners from South Sudan, after intense fighting killed hundreds of people and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

South Sudan's warring factions declare ceasefire

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has declared a "unilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities", and ordered government troops to "disengage" from fighting rival forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar, following days of violence that left hundreds dead.

South Sudan: Clashes erupt in Juba hours after UN plea

Renewed fighting has broken out in South Sudan between forces loyal to the president and vice-president.

UN Security Council slams fighting in capital of S. Sudan

The UN Security Council on Saturday "strongly condemned" the fighting in Juba, capital of South Sudan, between soldiers loyal to the president and the first vice president of the world's youngest country.

China deploys troops to UN force to protect South Sudan oilfields (Wall Street Journal)

China has begun deploying 700 soldiers to a UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan to protect oil fields and Chinese workers amid a rebellion in the African country, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The newspaper quoted a spokesman for South Sudan's president as saying on Tuesday that the airlift of a Chinese infantry battalion to the South Sudanese states of Unity and Upper Nile was expected to take several days.

China is the biggest investor in South Sudan's oil industry.

Peace talks set for South Sudan - or will new nation face global sanctions?

South Sudan was supposed to be a crowning foreign policy achievement for the United States – something that would last at a time when the Arab Spring revolutions in Libya and Egypt haven’t been living up to their expectations.
After all, the country’s very existence was brought about through years of developmental aid approved by various U.S. administrations.
The oil-rich country was even promoted to global investors as the new hot-spot for opportunity. But in the years since its split from Sudan, the country has fallen into despair. 

South Sudan: 12 die after mob attacks UN base. - Under the guise of peaceful demonstrators intending to present a petition

JUBA, South Sudan: An angry mob of South Sudanese youths attacked a UN base on Thursday in order to harm members of an ethnic minority sheltering inside. Peacekeepers were forced to open fire, amid rampaging violence that killed at least 12 people, officials there said.

The UN mission in South Sudan condemned the "unprovoked attack'' and called for a full investigation into the "heinous murders.''

In a statement late on Thursday, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, said at least 20 civilians were killed and more than 70 injured in the "brazen, inhuman'' attack.

South Sudan: EU steps up efforts to prevent a humanitarian tragedy. -The European Commission is ready to boost its live-saving assistance by €45 million

European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 12 April 2014:

 Due to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in South Sudan, the European Commission is ready to boost its live-saving assistance by €45 million to prevent an appalling tragedy in the country which is affecting the whole region.

This upcoming funding has been announced during a high-level meeting on the South Sudan humanitarian crisis organised in Washington by the European Commission, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United States Agency for International Development.

U.S. Concern About Violations of Cessation of Hostilities in South Sudan. -Press Statement/Jen Psaki....

State Department, Washington, DC,February 8, 2014

"We are deeply concerned by reports of violations by both the Government of South Sudan and anti-government forces of the Cessation of Hostilities agreement that was signed in Addis Ababa on January 23. We urge the redeployment or phased withdrawal of foreign forces invited by either side, and warn of the serious consequences which could result from any regionalization of this conflict.