Elections & Peace: South Sudan’s political parties, civil society and stakeholders signed a Declaration of Essential Principles in Juba, pledging to reject violence, hate speech and intimidation ahead of the December 2026 general elections. Civic Prep: Eastern Equatoria launched its State High Election Committee office and a statewide voter education campaign in Torit, with plans to reach all counties and update polling stations. Rule of Law & Finance: Public voices urged President Salva Kiir to fix systems, enforce laws and regulate foreign exchange—saying leadership changes alone won’t stop mismanagement and street currency trading. Land Governance: The South Sudan National Land Coalition warned that political interference is driving illegal land acquisition, calling for faster passage of the Land Bill and stronger enforcement. Women & Youth Support: GIZ’s ResPEct programme distributed 1,822 dignity kits to partners to support menstrual health and school participation for girls. Economy & Courts: A US court recognized Qatar National Bank’s $1.02bn arbitration award against South Sudan, raising the risk of international enforcement. Health: DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak is accelerating toward 4,000 cases, with WHO warning transmission is outpacing response. Agriculture Jobs: Kenya and other cashew-growing countries trained 81 cashew actors in Mombasa on farming, processing and value addition to boost rural livelihoods. Public Safety: Northern Bahr el Ghazal reported a fatal rabies-linked stray dog bite of a five-year-old returnee child in Aweil North.