[IMF] Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a disbursement of SDR 123 million (50 percent of quota or about US$ 174.2 million) to South Sudan under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). This is the second IMF financial assistance to South Sudan since it joined the IMF in 2012. The disbursement will help finance South Sudan’s urgent balance of payments needs and provide critical fiscal space to maintain poverty-reducing and growth-enhancing spending.

[Monitor] By Felix Warom Okello

[Radio Dabanga] Khartoum / Darfur — Reactions continue to flow-in from across Sudan’s political spectrum, to the historic signing of the Declaration of Principles (DOP) between the Sudanese transitional government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North rebel movement under the leadership of Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu) on Sunday.

[CFR] Surrounded by regional turmoil and managing complicated domestic politics, the pressure is rising on Kenya, a critically important economic and security partner to the United States, to help shape a future in which its citizens can thrive. It will take deft diplomacy and real leadership for Kenya to navigate through the months ahead, and Washington should look for ways to help it succeed.

[HRW] Facilitate Commission’s Work; Advance Justice

[VOA] Juba — The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in South Sudan’s Juba International Airport on Thursday. The 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be offered first to health care workers, including doctors and nurses, along with other vulnerable groups.

[East African] Juba — South Sudan on Thursday received 132,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

[VOA] A new report says South Sudanese journalists, rights activists and opposition members living outside the country are still at risk of being harassed and even killed by South Sudanese authorities, most notably by the National Security Service (NSS) intelligence agency.

[Unicef] Juba — Today 132,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived at the Juba International Airport. This is the first of several vaccine shipments scheduled to arrive over the coming months to South Sudan through the support of the COVAX Facility. The COVAX Facility is a global partnership comprised of Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and WHO established to ensure all countries can equitably access COVID-19 vaccines.

[East African] The European Union has sanctioned South Sudan army general Gabriel Moses Lokujo over human rights violations.