Top stories of 2015: News & investigative reports

The peace process in South Sudan and the findings of the African Union Commission of Inquiry generated the most interest among our readers this year, besides reports on battles during the last dry season and plans by President Salva Kiir to break up the country’s ten states, according to statistics on page views.

The peace process in South Sudan and the findings of the African Union Commission of Inquiry generated the most interest among our readers this year, besides reports on battles during the last dry season and plans by President Salva Kiir to break up the country’s ten states, according to statistics on page views.

The top ten stories by page views were:

1. South Sudan president consults security chiefs over peace deal

2. Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan

3. South Sudan army chief boycotts rebels’ return to Juba

4. Plans for Machar to visit Juba next week

5. Rare elephant species seen for first time in South Sudan

6. AU: Juba mass killings were state policy, coordinated

7. Kiir says he fears SPLM will turn against him after peace

8. US lawmaker bashes S Sudanese diplomats, suggests Kiir and Machar be jailed

9. Generals say Juba massacres done by private militia, not SPLA

10. Major split within SPLM/A-IO leadership

*A series of breaking reports on fighting in Unity and Upper Nile states, particularly in May 2015, collectively registered more page view than any of the above cited stories.

Investigative Reports

One of our priorities for the year 2015 was investigative journalism, and this resulted in the publication of a number of special reports, starting with an investigation into the fabricated military record of a top spokesman of SPLM-IO rebel leader Riek Machar and a special investigative series on business interests of President Salva Kiir. Other reports highlighted the so-called ‘Tractorgate‘ deal, the ‘war economy’, and issues related to humanitarian policy and peacekeeping.

We thank our website readers and listeners for staying with us throughout the year! Please get in contact with us about what issues you think we should cover in the new year. If you would like to support us financially consider giving via our donate page. 

Outspoken ‘general’ never led men in battle

Nilepet boss secretly diverting funds to friends and political allies

UN delays leave ‘protection’ area unfenced amid horrific violence in S Sudan’s Unity State

Missing money at SPLA Div 4; widows unpaid

War Economy: Kiir’s office spends more than budget of an entire state

War Economy: Irrecoverable losses at S Sudan oil fields

Special investigation: President Kiir linked to multi-million dollar roads contracts

Special investigation: Salva Kiir’s ‘Garden of Eden’

South Sudan finance ministry bypassed in multi-million dollar tractor deal

Donor audit finds failings in UNDP health projects in S Sudan

Son of central bank governor involved in currency trading in Juba

Prisoners: SPLA holding dozens of its own officers in ‘inhumane’ conditions