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…]
OpEd
“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…]
Nation Talks
High inflation instability can damage economic growth through reducing consumers’ purchasing power. This causes uncertainty, leading to higher interest rates in dangerous cases. It also leads to a breakdown in value of a currency as it happens in some other countries, which, could equally explain the ongoing situation in South Sudan. Stemming from economic policy failure, tall[Read More…]
Jobs in South Sudan; Where do they really go?
By Isaac Chol Aguer The other night, while strolling through Facebook, I came across a post from a friend asking a question so simple it hurt: “Who actually gets the jobs posted on South Sudan NGO Forum?” I laughed, not because it was funny — but because it was[Read More…]
The Week Before: Waiting for a Birthday No One Announced
By Isaac Chol There’s a strange quietness in Juba this week. Not the calm kind — it’s the kind of silence that sits in your chest, making you wonder if you’ve forgotten something important. It lately happens every year around this time. The Secondhand clothes “Aly-wara” vendors at Konyo-Konyo[Read More…]
The vital interconnection between social well-being and environmental health
By Garang Garang Adim The foundation of any thriving society lies in the well-being of its people and the health of its environment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), social well-being refers to the overall health, happiness, and quality of life experienced by individuals and communities, shaped by[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…]
Nation Talks
The level of criminality in the country is untold. In government institutions, the private sector and individuals, where arresting a criminal is just like a joke. If a criminal is arrested in the morning, the very person will be freed in the afternoon time regardless of whether it’s on charges[Read More…]
The Forgotten Promise: A Letter to the Conscience of a Nation
By Isaac Chol Aguer There are mornings when a nation ought to look itself in the mirror and ask: What have we allowed ourselves to become? This Monday is one of them. In the past seven days alone, South Sudan witnessed tragedies that should shake any heart still capable[Read More…]
Matured loved; young ignored
Call people to help you dig your garden, they will turn it down. But call them to share with them the fruits of your garden; they will all come in less than a second. Many will eat with you when they can’t cook with you. Many will want to employ[Read More…]
How the paradise caught fire: Lessons from California inferno
In our imagination or in biblical terms, paradise is supposed to be a place of absolute comfort where suffering is nonexistent, a sanctuary far above the reach of sorrow and destruction for that matter. But on earth, even paradise burns. Take your time to think about it. It humbles a[Read More…]