MCK RADIO

*A Fresh Start for Torit’s Women Traders as New Market Stalls Open*

TORIT, Eastern Equatoria State March 17, 2026 Under the bright sun in Torit town, a group of women gathered around a newly constructed shelter, their baskets of fresh vegetables neatly arranged on clean tables a sharp contrast to the dusty ground where many once traded.

For years, vendors like Mary Luka sold produce in difficult conditions, often exposing food to dirt and health risks. But that reality is beginning to change following the official opening of new vegetable market stalls built by the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The facility, handed over to the Torit Women Cooperative Group and municipal authorities, is already impacting at least 245 people most of them women striving to support their families through small-scale trade.

Construction of the market began in November 2025 as part of a broader effort to revive local markets and create safer, more organized trading spaces. Beyond infrastructure, the initiative reflects a growing push to strengthen community resilience amid economic uncertainty and declining humanitarian assistance.

“This is primarily to help you become self-sufficient,” said WPDI Country Manager Dagu David during the handover ceremony, urging traders to make full use of the opportunity while maintaining the facility.
For many women, the new stalls represent more than just a workplace they symbolize dignity and hope. “The construction will make us stand strong with the current crisis,” said trader Martha Peter, pointing to the absence of regular incomes such as government salaries.
Local leaders also see the project as a turning point.

Mayor Oyito Baptist Soforonio described the launch as the realization of a long-awaited dream, encouraging the community to embrace entrepreneurship and shared responsibility in sustaining the market.
Women leaders echoed similar sentimen

Sout Al Shaab: New Youth-Led Movement Launches to Champion Nonviolence and Citizen Empowerment in South Sudan

A new South Sudanese youth-led initiative, Sout Al Shaab (Voice of the People), has officially launched with a bold vision to reshape civic engagement and advance nonviolent social change across the country. The movement was unveiled during a press statement attended by members of the media, invited guests, and members of the public.

Positioning itself as a nonviolent, non-profit and non-partisan social movement, Sout Al Shaab aims to mobilize and organize citizens to influence public policy, strengthen decision-making processes, and promote community-driven actions. The initiative envisions an “informed citizenry acting as agents of social, economic and political transformation for sustainable peace and development in South Sudan.”

According to the founders, the movement seeks to play an active role in nation-building through peaceful and grassroots engagements. It plans to advocate for justice, equal rights, and inclusive governance while amplifying the voices of ordinary citizens. The platform will also support a wide range of peacebuilding interventions, including civic education, public debates, mediation, dialogues, capacity-building programs, and lawful civil actions such as litigation and petitioning.

Organizers emphasized that the country’s ongoing challenges—many of them human-made—highlight the urgent need for a civic movement grounded in nonviolence. They commended the resilience of South Sudanese communities, noting that their endurance continues to inspire the birth of new ideas and homegrown solutions.

“Sout Al Shaab is born out of the belief that our motherland thirsts for constructive, peaceful engagement,” the statement read. “Dear Shaab, be a voice anywhere and everywhere. Together, we will make nonviolence a new normal for the current and future generations.”

The movement encourages citizens from all walks of life to join its efforts in promoting accountability, justice, and lasting peace through peaceful means.

For more information or to engage with the initiative, Sout Al Shaab invites the public to reach out through its official communication channels.

Health Leaders Call for Greater Investment and Emergency Reform at AGOSS Scientific Conference

November 16, 2025 – Juba, South Sudan

Senior policymakers, health professionals, and medical associations closed the 4th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of South Sudan (AGOSS) with strong calls for improved health financing, emergency care reforms, the protection of medical workers, and greater professional collaboration.

Held at the Pyramid Hotel in Juba, the conference brought together specialists from across South Sudan and regional delegates from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. The event highlighted the growing scientific visibility of AGOSS and the urgent need to strengthen maternal, neonatal, and reproductive health systems.

AGOSS President Dr. Zakaria praised the association’s expanding influence and partnerships with global medical bodies, UN agencies, and universities. He emphasized that AGOSS continues to play a central role in maternal health research, guideline development, and capacity building across the country.

Chairperson of the TNLA Health Committee, Hon. Dr. Benjamin Malek, called for increased investment in hospitals and emergency response systems. He warned that despite the presence of skilled professionals, health facilities lack basic supplies, forcing patients to buy consumables during critical moments. He also raised concerns about the arrest and harassment of doctors due to a lack of medico-legal clarity, urging the establishment of a national forum between parliament, the judiciary, and medical associations.

Rev. Janet Michael, Director General for Nurses and Midwives, expressed concern over the poor quality of care in both public and private facilities despite rising numbers of trained personnel. She urged medical staff to change attitudes toward emergencies, noting that delays in treating bleeding mothers have led to preventable deaths. “We must act fast and recognize danger,” she said, appealing for improved commitment and accountability.

One of the strongest appeals came from Dr. Adut Jervase, Deputy Chairperson of the South Sudan Doctors’ Union (SSDU). She praised AGOSS for elevating South Sudan’s scientific profile but warned that professionals cannot provide quality services without essential tools and supplies. She also highlighted a major concern: many frontline health workers have gone four months without receiving their incentives, calling it a crisis that must be urgently addressed. As the country prepares its new national budget, she urged parliament to align health financing with the Abuja Declaration and prioritize the welfare of medical personnel.

The conference ended with renewed commitment to scientific collaboration, strengthening emergency care, and advancing maternal health reforms across South Sudan.