Tag Archive for: #DataSpeaks

Data Story: 10.23% rise in the number of students registered for the certificate of secondary education examinations this year

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35,459 candidates registered for the CSE exams in the academic year 2022/23, with 22,920 males and 12,539 females. Last year, 32,167 candidates registered, with 21,799 males and 10,368 females.

Writer: Emmanuel Bida Thomas

The Ministry of General Education and Instruction released the schedule for the 2022/23 Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) Examinations last week, which will take place from March 20 to March 31, 2023.

According to Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of General Education and Instruction, 35,459 candidates have registered for the 2022/23 academic year exams. There are 12,539 females and 22,920 males among them.

However, compared to the previous year, when 32,167 candidates enrolled, including 21,799 males and 10,368 females, this year’s total number of candidates registered represents a 10.23% percent decrease.

Male candidates increased by 1,121 from 21,799 in the 2021/22 exams, and female candidates also increased by 2,171 from 10,368 the previous year.

YearMalesFemalesTotal
2020/2122,72411,63834,362
2021/2221,79910,36832,167
2022/2322,92012,53935,459
Table showing number of CSE candidates for the last three years

Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of General Education and Instruction, explained that the small number of candidates this academic year is due to security issues in certain regions of South Sudan, the adverse effects of COVID-19, which caused extended school closures, and the destructive floods.

S/NoState/AreaNumber of CandidatesNumber of Schools
Abyei Administrative Area2585
Jonglei State1,39820
Lakes State1,90115
Unity State77720
Pibor Administrative Area421
Eastern Equatoria State2,51629
Ruweng Administrative Area1,52319
Western Equatoria State1,29429
Central Equatoria State13,942135
Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State2,02828
Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State3,07526
Warrap State1,82628
Upper Nile State1,87328
IDP Juba3,00415
Table showing number of Candidates and Schools by State and Administrative Areas
Document showing statistics of students for this year’s CSE

Conclusion:

This data analysis indicates that secondary education in South Sudan is on the rise, despite a slight overall decrease in the number of registered candidates. The increase in male and female candidates, while remaining lower than the male candidate count, is a positive sign that more females are pursuing secondary education and have access to the necessary resources. This could indicate a shift in attitudes towards female education in South Sudan and an overall increase in investment in education. However, further research is needed to better understand the situation in South Sudan, particularly in terms of educational opportunities and resources available to students.

Data Story: 12.34% rise in the number of pupils registered for the certificate of primary education examinations this year.

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The previous year, 53,220 enrolled for the exams comprising 31,232 males and 21,988 females. This year, 60,714 candidates, 34,505 males and 26,209 females, registered.

Writer: Emmanuel Bida Thomas

This week, pupils across South Sudan will write their Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations for the academic year 2022. 

The Ministry of General Education and Instruction says that a total of 60,714 candidates, 34,505 males and 26,209 females, have dully registered for the examination, which began on Monday, February 13, 2023.

However, as compared to the previous year, when 53,220 candidates, including 31,232 males and 21,988 females, registered, this year’s number shows a 12.34 per cent increase in the number of candidates.

Male candidates increased by 3,273 from 31,232 in the 2021/22 exams, and female candidates also grew by 4,221 from 21,988 the previous year.

The increase in male candidates accounts for 9.49% of the increase, while the increase in female candidates accounts for 16.11% of the increase.

YearMalesFemalesTotal
2017/1826,53315,46041,993
2018/1930,48018,00048,480
2019/2034,82521,96256,787
2020/2132,54920,69362,362
2021/2231,23221,98853,220
2022/2334,50526,20960,714

Table showing statistics of CPE candidates for the past six years

The presented data indicates that there has been a 12.34% increase in the number of candidates registered for the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examinations in South Sudan for the academic year 2022, in comparison to the previous year. Out of a total of 60,714 registered candidates, 34,505 are male, and 26,209 are female. Notably, the percentage increase in male candidates stands at 9.49%, while that of female candidates is 16.11%. The South Sudan National Examinations Council (SSNEC) has demonstrated exceptional efforts in registering a significant number of candidates this year, notwithstanding challenges such as insecurity and feeding difficulties in some regions of the country, as noted by the Minister for General Education and Instruction, Awut Deng Acuil.

Fact-check: University of Juba VC overstated 2022 graduation figures in August

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VC John Akec estimated in August that the University of Juba would graduate 7,000 students this year, but only 3,500 graduated 

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

The University of Juba’s Vice Chancellor John Akec, in August 2022 projected in a meeting with President Salva Kiir that the University would graduate 7,000 students.

“He [John Akec] also informed H.E. the President about increase admissions of many students to public universities. Noting that this year [2022], the University of Juba will graduate 7,000 students,” the presidential press quoted John Akec in August this year.

This was when he met the president to inform him about the state of academic affairs at the university. The minutes of the meeting were posted on the verified Facebook page of the Office of the President – Republic of South Sudan.

“The number of intakes have increased and we are working to expand the number of lecture halls in our facility,” John added as quoted by the office of the president.

The screenshot of the Facebook post meeting minutes, by Office of the President 

The Juba-based English daily newspaper City Review published a story titled “University of Juba to graduate 7,000 students” on August 23, 2022, about a day after the meeting, which it sourced from the Office of the President’s Facebook page post meeting minutes when Professor John Akec met the President.

‘‘I had a fruitful meeting with President Salva Kiir, and I hope there will be steady improvements in the state of affairs of public universities across the country,’’ VC Akec was quoted as saying by City Review.

The University of Juba held its 2022 graduation ceremony on November 26th. How many students graduated then? 7,000? Certainly not.

211 Check obtained professor John Akec’s structured presentation speech during the recently concluded graduation on the 26th November, 2022 at the University of Juba, which was presided over by Vice President James Wani Igga. He said the overall total graduands were 3,500 whereby only 2,400 were present; approximately 2,000 males and 400 females graduated respectively.

“Your excellency, the Vice President, and representative of the Chancellor, distinguished guests, graduands, parents, ladies and gentlemen. I want to congratulate our 3,500 graduands of today for their landmark achievement. Those in attendance today are about 2,400 graduands comprising about 2,000 males and 400 females. Of these, 12 will be awarded doctorate degrees, 513 will be awarded masters, 137 will be awarded postgraduate diplomas, 973 will receive bachelor degrees, [and] 737 will be awarded intermediate diplomas,” Vice Chancellor John Akec stated in his speech to the public.

In an interview on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation before the graduation, John Akec also said that 3,500 students were graduating from different colleges, but only 2,400 were there.

Looking back at University of Juba graduation in 2021:

Only a year ago, in 2021, at least 1,756 students from various colleges and faculties at the University of Juba graduated. There were 1,452 males and 304 females among them according to reports by Eye Radio and Juba Echo.

Conclusion:

211 Check concludes that John Akec overstated in his August projection in which he claimed that 7,000 students would graduate from the University of Juba this year, 2022. Only 3,500 students graduated from the university in its 2022 graduation held on 26th November.


This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

Blog: Cybersecurity awareness and why it matters in South Sudan

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As South Sudan’s internet penetration grows, so do cyber threats such as cyberbullying, scamming, and hacking. Fortunately, a concern to curb this is taking shape through cybersecurity awareness—an effort from the government and nonprofit organisations.

Writer: Ghai Aketch

It’s your right to get access to the internet, given the contemporary environment of modernisation. But your rights can be your downfall if you aren’t extra cautious with your online interactions. It, therefore, comes with responsibility, discipline, and alertness to be secure on the internet. 

With internet adoption in South Sudan in recent years, many people have made money and lost it to online scammers. 

The country has three mobile network operators, with 3,885,484 users in 2022. Moreover, there are 12 internet service providers (ISPs) with a major market in Juba. Both ISPs and mobile internet users constituted 1.25 million in 2022, according to Data Reportal statistics.

South Sudan’s internet penetration rate stands at 10.9 per cent in 2022. But out of this figure, Facebook has nearly 500 thousand users. Bringing total social media users to 515 thousand in the country.

That has compelled the National Communications Authority and SafetyComm South Sudan to launch extensive cybersecurity awareness to curb growing cyber attacks on individuals’ social media pages, accounts and organisations. 

Lately, hackers have targeted internet users in the country, with most scams coming through e-business services, fake scholarships, grant applications and trickery links shared on social media. 

Cyber experts stress that South Sudanese netizens fall prey to scams that come to them through ‘fully funded’ scholarships and financial grants for business support but end up spending their own money on non-existing services.

Others lose thousands of dollars to non-existing car shipping companies that mimic real car-dealing websites overseas. 

Angel Atem, a South Sudanese netizen, lost her Facebook account to hackers earlier in October 2022. That implies she now has no control over her account, but the hackers have. They’ve been sending her friends’ links via inbox and asking for financial support in her name. 

“My Facebook account was hacked, and I don’t know what to do. I registered it with my sim card, but it has been changed, so I can’t log in again,” she said.

She is just one of the many other online users in the country who are only interested in employing curiosity while surfing the internet while clicking links that subsequently require their login details.

Another loophole cybersecurity experts caution netizens is having one password for a long time or having one password across their multiple internet accounts. 

“If someone tells you that they’re going to connect you to free MTN data, then you give them your password, that’s not facebook giving out your password; it’s you,” Ariik Robert, a cybersecurity expert working for SafetyComm South Sudan told the audience during a cybersecurity awareness campaign.

“So that’s why awareness is a key so that we tell you it’s a lie so that next time it comes your way, you will definitely know someone is trying to take over your account,” Robert explained. 

“Global cybersecurity awareness month, NCA will take multiple activities to raise awareness levels in our communities and build the capacity and empower the people to be resilient to mitigate cybersecurity attacks and to deal with them once they are attacked,” Unguec Stephan Kang, NCA Assistant Director Cybersecurity, said in October.

According to the NCA, the country must protect exposed internet users from scammers. One significant way to protect them is to increase digital literacy and creation awareness across the country.

But as a digital citizen, you have the responsibility to keep yourself and others secure, experts advise. 

Simple ways to protect yourself from hackers

  • Use dual-factor authentication on your cloud, email, social media and bank accounts. Two-factor authentication gives you control of the activity login of your accounts by sending your codes to your mobile phone or email.
  • Strong password, using a combination of characters such as; caps, lowe@, numbers, _ or # )
  • You should use a different password across all your internet accounts and keep it unchanged for a long time. If not, hackers can quickly gain access to your account by breaking the password.
  • Use anti-virus software on all your devices. That will offer more security against malware designed to attack you.
  • Not clicking suspicious links and entering your login credentials when it instructs you to do so. You’re about to be scammed should that link redirect for a login. Stop it! 
  • Changing passwords often, not using the same password across the accounts, creating extended passports, and not clicking links you don’t know. 

Robert reiterated that social media is very addictive; it has so much convenience with it, it’s entertaining-takes away so much boredom- these are threads hackers take advantage of, he warned. 

This blog post was published as part of the Fact-checking and Digital Rights Fellowship in the context of the Africa Digital Rights Fund with support from the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). 

Blog: South Sudan must fortify its cyberspace as cybercrime attacks cost billions of dollars in losses globally

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Cyber attacks are one of the most dangerous phenomena haunting people worldwide. The attacks, aided by information technology infrastructure and actors, cause severe damage to the lives of people everywhere.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

Cyber crime is committed through illegal attacks by entities or individuals using collective methods of knowledge, device and the internet to get unauthorised access to computer systems, networks and other information technology devices. 

Cyber-attacks are of various categories and take different dimensions depending on the attacker’s interests in the target. It combines techniques, skills, devices and the target’s vulnerability to accomplish a successful attack.

If they succeed in the attacks, data is compromised, devices are infected, and the victims are psychologically tortured as they are left with pain.

The cyber-attack actors are the crime organisations, the state, and the individual. The mission of the attack may differ, but it primarily is to harvest data from the targets that could yield millions or billions of dollars and information gathering.

There are many types of cyber-attacks, including phishing, SQL injection threat, man – in – the middle, cross-site scripting, distributed denial of service, password, AI-powered, drive, eavesdropping, ransomware, and so on.

These attacks are the most commonly used globally to commit cybercrime operations over the internet to compromise victims.

The illustration of phishing attack © AAG IT Company

Even though the internet has many advantages, South Sudanese should be aware of its risks and dangers. This necessitates understanding cybercrime attacks and the methods used to carry them out.

Nobody can, however, eliminate cyber attacks, but understanding the dynamics of the attacks can help reduce attacks and save money and people’s lives.

According to the AAG IT Company 2022 cyber crime report, phishing attacks are widely executed.

“Phishing remains the most common form of cybercrime. Globally, 323,972 internet users fell victim to phishing attacks in 2021. This means half of the users who were a victim of cybercrime fell for a phishing attack. An average of $136 lost per phishing attack amounts to $44.2 million stolen by cyber criminals through phishing attacks in 2021”, part of the report reads.

The victims of cybercrime are targeted using emails, and in 2021, the report said about one billion emails were breached, and the data lost is sold to criminals to enhance further attacks.

“Phishing attacks largely target victims through emails; 2021 saw nearly 1 billion emails exposed, affecting 1 in 5 internet users. These breached databases are sold on black marketplaces on the dark web, meaning cyber criminals can purchase them and use the addresses in phishing attacks”.

The Phishing Trends both in 2021 and 2022

The LinkedIn platform is where phishing email attacks are delivered because of its many users. In the first quarter of 2021, phishing emails attached to LinkedIn were highly clicked at 42%, followed by Facebook at 20% and Twitter at 9%.

LinkedIn42%
Facebook20%
Twitter9%
Table showing phishing percentage attacks volume delivered through emails on social media

And in the first quarter of 2022, there are five top platforms which experienced phishing, with LinkedIn taking the lead at 52%, DHL at 14%, Google at 7%, Microsoft at 6%, and FedEx at 6%.

LinkedIn52%
DHL14%
Google7%
Microsoft6%
FedEx6%
Table showing phishing attack volume delivered through different platforms

The rationales for the increase in the cost of cybercrime are that cybercriminals have developed new attack technologies, many countries have weak cybersecurity, cybercrime has turned into a service or business, and the criminals monetise their targets, according to Internet Society Organization.

In an article published by Security Magazine, which highlighted the state of phishing report for 2022 by SlashNext, it found 255 million attacks had taken place in the form of URL based-links, email messages, and mobile and browser channels, amounting to 61% higher than in 2021.

The report indicated that phishing attacks have shifted to mobile devices and communication channels, primarily targeting employees with scams and personal information theft.

Global Cybercrime statistics 2022

The worldwide trends of cybercrime have wrecked damages lost to institutions, individuals, and information technology devices.

In Europe, the United Kingdom has many cybercrime victims, numbering 4783 as of November 2022, above 40% compared with 2020.

In the first quarter of 2022, Russia had 42.92 million data breaches. However, it dropped to 28.78 million violations in the second quarter of 2022. 

The United States of America accounts for 46% of cybercrime attacks worldwide. In Asia, Pakistan experienced an 83% increase in financial fraud committed through social media between 2018 and 2021.

 In  2018, about 17,560 India-based websites were hacked, including 26,121 one in 2020 were hacked.  In the African continent, Nigeria in 2022 has seen 1616% higher data breaches in the first quarter, 35 472 in the second quarter, and 608,765 in the third quarter.

In Australia, $72 million was lost in 2022 through scams. In September this year, Optus telecommunications company experienced a data breach that victimised about 2.1 million customers, and 9.8 million records were stolen.

In conclusion, with the advance in technology, cyber crimes have become more sophisticated, lucrative, and well-organized. The attackers evade the security layers or protocols of individuals, groups, organisations, institutions, and devices.

The victims of the attacks could be institutions, individuals, and information technology devices or infrastructures.

This blog post was published as part of the Fact-checking and Digital Rights Fellowship in the context of the Africa Digital Rights Fund with support from the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA). 

Explainer: Somalia and Somaliland differences South Sudanese should know

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Writer: Ghai Aketch

More often than not, most people overly confuse Somalia and Somaliland, thinking that it refers to the same country. However, the differences are very distinct as explained for you below by 211 Check.

Somalia is an independent state, which acquired self-rule in 1960 from Britain and Italy who had established British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland which later merged and gained independence in 1960 as Federal Republic of Somalia.

However, in 1991 Somaliland declared itself autonomous from Somalia after a rebel group, Somali National Movement (SNM) led a rebellion: toppling the ruling government that year. Somaliland became self-governing with its capital city in Hargeisa, and up to date holds democratic elections. 

Regardless of its proclaimed independence, Somaliland is not recognised as a sovereign  state. Some  analysts, however, assert that the African Union is reluctant to declare Somaliland an independent state fearing that other secessionists might seek to split from already independent states which can subsequently undermine the continent’s stability.

Although Somaliland is not a recognised state, it goes for democratic elections and has a complete structure of government. Its currency is Somaliland Shilling (Sl.Sh) whereas Somalia’s currency is Somali shilling (SOS). Also, both regions are located in the horn of Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean.

But due to different economic  levels 1 USD in Somalia is equivalent to about 570 SOS, Somali shilling and also the same  US dollar is about 10,000 Somaliland shilling. In Somaliland, due to currency devaluation, people carry bundles of money in bags or wheelbarrows to buy basic items.That compelled the government to introduce cashless transactions through mobile money payments. 

A week ago, a post published by tabloids  went viral  stating that 1 US dollar in Somalia  is equivalent to 9,000 Somaliland shilling. The post unintentionally confused Somalia with Somaliland:

“In Somalia, $1 is equivalent to 9,000 Somaliland shillings – the currency is so devalued that people roam the markets with piles of money in wheelbarrows.” The post reads partly.

Screenshot of a Facebook post by Juba TV

Some people  assume it’s Somalia that is referred to as Somaliland to mean land of Somali. But they’re different as explained above.

Data Story: Young men circumcised in Bor since July 2021

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More than 2,000 locals mostly young men have been circumcised voluntarily since the exercise started in July 2021

By Deng Ghai Deng

Health officials in Bor town say the free medical male circumcision is gaining momentum as young people are now embracing the cut and testifying to its benefits to their oblivious colleagues.

1st 2nd  3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 
180223227234210209226244257
Table Showing  Number of Young People Circumcised in Bor in 9 Rounds Since July 2021 

Amid the negative cultural perceptions attached to the cut, which persisted over years, the Jonglei State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with partners, launched the first-ever free circumcision in July 2021 to sensitise locals to take up circumcision.

The move was triggered by reports that most of the people living with HIV/AIDs in Jonglei State were uncircumcised.

The rollout triggered mixed reactions from various quarters, as some people condemned it, while others viewed it as a welcome remedy.

The Executive Director for the Community Support Initiative (CSI), Achiek David Arou, who plays a part in the implementation of the initiative, revealed that the exercise had to overcome lots of resistance when it began last year.

“Although the culture denies it; we are being dictated to by the health risk of not being circumcised,” he said.

“Our circumcision is not a cultural-based exercise, but it is a health-driven need that targets only the sexual reproductive age. So, people get information one by one throughout our demand creation activities,” Mr Arou explained.

After raising awareness, the health partner said their facility now receives more people who are demanding voluntary male circumcision and HIV/AIDS services as well.

“We are also embarking on other activities, for example, contact tracing and case finding indexes for HIV/AIDs,” he said.

More than 2,000 locals mostly young men have been circumcised since the exercise started in July 2021.

These include the community living around the barracks, SSPDF cadres, and the two direct beneficiaries of the initiative.

However, before the clients are circumcised, voluntary HIV testing is also undertaken for the recipients to know their status.

About 10 people, estimated at one per cent of the clients, tested positive for HIV throughout the exercise.

Motivational factors

Arou Elijah Kur, one of the beneficiaries who applauded the rollout, revealed he took it up after being convinced by its health benefits.

“Firstly, I got motivated because I had already been aware of its importance, especially when I was at school. So, I opted for general cleanliness and the fact that it prevents the transmission of STIs, “he narrated.

Mr Kur confessed that circumcision had helped him to realise that he could nowadays last longer in bed as opposed to the previous times when he used to ejaculate within a few moments.

“I remember those days; I could just ‘release’ within a few minutes. But I now last longer than that, and that is one of the achievements of this service, “he added.

According to Kur, the 60 per cent chance of evading contracting venereal diseases when circumcised was another motivating factor to embrace the cut.

Beating the odds  

When asked whether he was not worried about repercussions, he said it was high time to forgo bad cultural practices. 

Most uncircumcised people have been unable to go for the procedure due to peer pressure and old cultural beliefs.

Kur encouraged the uncircumcised male to reject circumcision stereotypes and embrace the cut.

“I went out of my girlfriend’s notice, but after I underwent it, she is now benefiting from it,” he happily recounts.

“We are in a modern society whereby things are hidden, but let’s be at least friendly to ourselves and our health. We shouldn’t be hearing what people are saying about it,” he added.

Upsetting the odds

In recent months, a song in Dinka dubbed “Aguala Ku Le Bor Ka Thou” which literally translates to “If a circumcised one happens to go to Bor, then he can die” went viral to many ears.

But Mr Kur said: “These were lies. Why am I still alive? He was questioned. “I am in Bor now, I actually got circumcised in Bor, and I have not died. Instead, I am alive and healthy. We should style up and abandon these rigid cultures, “he concluded.

A 24-year-old client who did not want his name to be disclosed said he shunned criticism given the modern exposure.

“Whenever you didn’t taste the food cooked by another woman; you will just think that your mother is the best cook,” he said.

“But there are other unique dishes besides that of your mother, so being circumcised is much better than the life we used to live,” he said.

When asked whether he still practises safe sex or not; he confessed that he still goes for safe sex, though the girlfriend gives him a hard time on a constant basis.

“In this part of the world, whenever you tell your girlfriend that you want to use a condom, she will feel bad and shy. She always thinks that condoms are for prostitutes, “the source stated.

According to him, he normally convinces the fiancée to accept safe sex even if she does not like condoms.

Relevancy

Daniel Wut Achom, Data Clerk, HIV/AIDs department at Bor State Hospital, believes the exercise will help the youngsters avoid contracting the disease if it continues.

“The people being circumcised are young people, but based on the prevalence among young people, it can help a lot in reduction of HIV infections. It is one of the strategies being used,” he said.

The official added the exercise would be better supported if the state established a centre within the main hospital.

About the Authors:

Deng Ghai Deng, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, a Data Analyst and Trainer. It is part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a three months data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualisation for three months (October to December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information

Data Story: Comparable data on Persons with disability in Eastern Equatoria State

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By Oriba Douglas

According to a national census conducted in 2008, prior to South Sudan’s independence in 2011, people with disabilities accounted for 5.1 per cent of the population, though the census is controversial and the number of disabled people is thought to be underestimated.

According to a 2016 household survey conducted by the Food Security and Livelihood Cluster in South Sudan, approximately 15% of households have at least one disabled family member.

According to the Food Security and Nutrition Monitoring Systems, South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics, OCHA, IPC Technical Working Group, Population Working Group, IOM, and UNHCR – South Sudan Population Estimates 2022, the number of people living with disabilities in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State is projected to be as shown in the visual below:

The above visualization is a small step in realising objective (3) of the WHO Global Disability Action Plan within South Sudan which is; to strengthen the collection of relevant and internationally comparable data on disability and support research on disability and related services.

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments that, when combined with other barriers, prevent them from participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others. Persons with disabilities are defined as “those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments that, when combined with other barriers, may prevent them from participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.”

Decades of conflict in South Sudan, both before and after independence in 2011, have increased the rate of disability and rendered people with disabilities more marginalised and excluded, owing to the numerous attitudinal, environmental, and institutional barriers they face, as well as a lack of concerted efforts to include them.

The World Health Organization has published the Global Disability Action Plan. This document aims to assist countries in directing their efforts toward specific actions to address the health concerns of people with disabilities. Three major goals were identified in the Action Plan:

  • to remove barriers and improve access to health services and programmes; 
  • to strengthen and extend rehabilitation, habilitation, assistive technology, assistance and support services, and community-based rehabilitation; 
  • to strengthen the collection of relevant and internationally comparable data on disability and support research on disability and related services.

For the World Health Organization Global Disability Action Plan to be achieved in South Sudan, official statistics on people living with disabilities need to be recorded. This is because despite decades of conflict and its impact on poverty and services, leaving many South

Sudanese with different types of disabilities, there are no official statistics in relation to disability

Prevalence in the country.

About the Authors:

Oriba Douglas, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, a Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a three months data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualisation for three months (October to December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information

Data Story: South Sudan Floods database 2021 

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A look at the areas within South Sudan where flooding occurred the last year 2021, the populations affected and the exact counties that experienced the flooding. 

By Oriba Douglas

South Sudan experienced the worst flooding it had seen in 60 years in 2021. The flooding exacerbated South Sudan’s already-existing problems.

Political instability, conflict, underdevelopment, and disease outbreaks are among the challenges confronting the world’s newest nation, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

The burden of all of these, as exacerbated by the flooding, is enormous, necessitating the provision of much-needed assistance and aid to those affected by the floods.

UN OCHA South Sudan and its humanitarian partners on the ground in flood-affected areas compiled figures of South Sudanese affected by flooding in order to coordinate and inform efforts to help those affected by the floods.

OCHA discovered that Fangak County in Jonglei State had the highest number of people affected by flooding out of all the counties in South Sudan, with 67,191 people affected, including women and children.

According to OCHA’s reports, September and October are the months of the year when the most severe flooding is likely to occur in flood-prone areas.

Jonglei State has the highest flood burden in South Sudan, with 304,765 people affected by flooding, accounting for 15% of the state’s population. Though the state is no stranger to flooding, flooding in 2021 wreaked havoc in seven counties. Areas were cut off and only accessible by canoes and other improvised boat-like structures.

Meanwhile, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Central Equatoria are tied for the least number of people affected by flooding, but of the two, Western Bahr el Ghazal State is the most affected, with 2% of its population affected, compared to Central Equatoria, which has 1% of its population affected. Flooding in Central Equatoria is mostly confined to the capital city of Juba, which is located within Juba County.

There have been no reported cases of widespread flooding in Western and Eastern Equatoria States, and as a result, no cases of displacement as a result of flooding have been recorded.

Upper Nile State has been found to be the State most affected by flooding in terms of area distribution, with 8 of its counties affected by flooding, compared to Central Equatoria State, which has only one county affected by flooding, Juba.

About the Authors:

Oriba Douglas, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, a Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a three months data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualisation for three months (October to December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information

Business Insider Africa estimates South Sudan’s debt-to-gross domestic product ratio at 64.4%

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By comparing what a country owes with what it produces, the debt-to-GDP ratio reliably indicates that particular country’s ability to pay back its debts. Often expressed as a percentage, this ratio can also be interpreted as the number of years needed to pay back debt if GDP is dedicated entirely to debt repayment

By Okot Emmanuel 

Business Insider Africa has listed South Sudan among twenty countries with the highest debt-to-gross domestic product ratio in the continent.

It says South Sudan has a debt-to-GDP ratio of 64.4% as of 2022.

The debt-to-GDP ratio is the metric comparing a country’s public debt to its gross domestic product.

The Business Insider says by comparing what a country owes with what it produces, the debt-to-GDP ratio reliably indicates that particular country’s ability to pay back its debts.

That said, below are 20 African countries with the highest debt-to-GDP ratios. This list is courtesy of a report by Statista dated December 2021. Although the exact figures of these countries’ public debts were not disclosed, the percentage of debt to GDP is clearly indicated as you can see below.

CountryDebt-to-GDP ratio
Eritrea175.10%
Cabo Verde                                                          160.7%.
Mozambique133.60%
Angola103.70%
Mauritius101%
Zambia101%
Republic of Congo85.40%
Ghana83.50%
The Gambia82.30%
Seychelles81.90%
Guinea-Bissau79.10%
Rwanda74.80%
Burundi:72.40%
Gabon72.10%
Senegal71.90%
Sierra-Leone71.10%
Namibia69.90%
Kenya69.70%
South Africa68.80%
South Sudan64.40%

A recent report by the World Bank showed that more than half of the world’s low-income countries, most of which are in Africa, are either currently struggling with debt distress or at risk of doing so.

The international financial institution says 15 low-income countries today have debt that is collateralized by natural resources—yet none provide details on the collateral arrangements.

The World Bank then stressed that greater debt transparency makes it easier for governments to make informed decisions about future borrowings.

In the same vein, it makes it easier for the citizens to hold their leaders accountable for the loans borrowed.

Also, Standard Bank Group recently red-flagged Ghana, Kenya Ethiopia, Zambia and Angola as African countries that could soon experience serious debt risks.

Although the exact figures of these countries’ public debts were not disclosed, The Business Insider Africa recommends that countries should take serious issues of debt.

About the Authors:

Okot Emmanuel, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, a Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a three months data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualisation for three months (October to December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information