James Wani Igga Named New VP
The South Sudan parliament on Saturday approved President Salva Kiir's choice for vice president, former parliamentary speaker James Wani Igga.
Igga is expected to take the oath of office on Sunday and will officially take up his duties at the beginning of next week.
Kiir sacked his entire cabinet last month, sparking fears of instability in the world's newest nation.
Most of the new government ministers have been nominated by Kiir and approved by parliament, although key posts remain vacant.
Wau Wau Weapons' Obscure Origins: Report
Independent Swiss-based research group the Small Arms Survey has said weapons seized from David Yau Yau's revel group in Jonglei state have been tampered with, in a bid to conceal where they came from.
Jonah Leff, a researcher with the Small Arms Survey, said the weapons seized were the same as those previously documented, except for the fact that the serial numbers are gone.
Researchers with the Small Arms Survey have said they have evidence Khartoum supplied weapons to Yau Yau’s fighters.
Residents Urge Referendum on Disputed Abyei
Members of the Abyei community have called on the African Union Peace and Security Council to move forward with a scheduled referendum in October, saying residents must be allowed to determine their own fates.
An African Union panel proposed last year that a referendum be held in October 2013 to allow Abyei residents to vote on whether they would join South Sudan or Sudan.
Khartoum has repeatedly said it will not allow the proposed referendum to go forward, as Sudanese citizens living around Abyei would not be elgible to vote.
Community leaders have said that, regardless of how the vote goes, a final decision will allow for greater trade between South Sudan and Sudan, and finally give residents political representation in whichever country they choose to align with.