Tag Archive for: #DataSpeaks

Data Story: 6.39% drop in the number of students registered for the certificate of secondary education examinations this year

34,362 candidates registered for the CSE exams in the academic year 2020/21, with 22,724 males and 11,638 females. This year, 32,167 candidates registered, with 21,799 males and 10,368 females.

By Adut Maguil

The Ministry of General Education and Instruction released the schedule for the 2021/22 Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) Examinations last week, which will take place from April 18 to April 27.

According to Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of General Education and Instruction, 32,167 candidates have registered for the 2021 academic year exams. There are 10,368 females and 21,799 males among them.

However, when compared to the previous year, when 34,362 candidates enrolled, including 22,724 males and 11,638 females, this year’s total number of candidates registered represents a 6.39 percent decrease.

Male candidates fell by 925 from 22,724 in the 2020/21 exams, while female candidates fell by 1,270 from 11,638 the previous year.

YearMalesFemalesTotal
2020/2122,72411,63834,362
2021/2221,79910,36832,167

According to Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of General Education and Instruction, security issues in some parts of the country, the negative impact of COVID-19, which resulted in protracted school closures, and the destructive floods are some of the reasons for the low number of candidates this academic year.

About the Authors:

Adut Maguil, 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, 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 Returnee figures, state and county levels 2021

By Oriba Douglas

A returnee is someone who was displaced from their habitual residence either within South Sudan or abroad, who has since returned to their habitual residence. 

According to Round 11 of IOM’s DTM baseline assessment, Wau County had the highest returnee individuals at 171,394 and also the highest household returnees at 40,541 households. This can be attributed to improved security situations influencing voluntary returns.

Kapoeta North County however produced the least Household returnees with 102 households and total individual returnees of 510 people was also the least among the Counties of South Sudan. This is majorly due to the nomadic lifestyle of the indigenous communities who prefer to be constantly on the move and are not necessarily influenced by security trends.

The other areas highlighted by the assessment are in full detail illustrated in the graph above. 

CAPTION: Comparison of total returnees Household vs Individual

A comparison of the total number of returnees per State vs the total number of Household returnees per State asserted that Upper Nile State has the Highest number of Individual returnees which was found to be 361,232 individuals including women and children and also the highest number of Household returnees at 6,557 households. 

Lakes State on the other hand had the lowest numbers of both individual and household returnees at 61,549 and 11,771 respectively.

Upper Nile State leads in the number of Individual returnees while Lakes State ranks lowest when it comes to individual returns and the same scenario repeats itself when it comes to household returnees.

Western Bahr El Ghazal State leads with the highest number of individual returnees from within South Sudan while Upper Nile State leads with the highest number of individual returnees from Outside South Sudan.

Western Bahr El Ghazal State also leads with the highest number of household returnees from within South Sudan while Upper Nile State leads with the highest number of household returnees from Outside South Sudan.

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: Women in the Western Equatoria State Government

By Justin Anthony

The Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan demands that there is 35% women representation in all levels of government. In this short article we look at the statistics of women in ministerial positions, members of state independent commissions and county commissioners in Western Equatoria State.

Out of the seventeen (17) state ministries, only four (04) female ministers were appointed by the various parties to the R-ARCSS in Western Equatoria State.

As per the power-sharing agreement, Western Equatoria State has ten counties in which only two (02) females were appointed as the County commissioners.

No Female advisors have been appointed out of the five.

In the six (06) state independent commissions that brought 30 individuals only nine (09) are females.


Gender

State Ministers
Independent CommissionsCounty Commissioners
Male132408
Female040902
Total173010
% of Women23.5%30%20% 

This brings the total number of female executives in the Western Equatoria State government to 13.


Statistics of women representation in Western Equatoria State  Executive
S/N
Name of candidate

Post

Party
1FemaleMinistry of Animal Resources, Fisheries and TourismIG
2FemaleMinistry of Roads and BridgesIG
3FemaleMinistry of General Education and InstructionIG
4FemaleMinistry of Gender, Child and Social WelfareIO
5  FemaleMember, Anti-Corruption CommissionIG
6FemaleMember, Employee Justice ChamberSSOA
7FemaleMember, HIV/AIDS CommissionIG
8FemaleMember, RRCIO
9FemaleMember, Human Rights CommissionIG
10FemaleChairperson, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation CommissionSSOA
11FemaleMember, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation CommissionIG
12FemaleCommissioner, Mundri West CountySSOA
13FemaleCommissioner, Mundri East CountyIG
1SPLM-IG 8
2SPLM-IO2
3SSOA3
4OPP0

About the Authors:

Justin Anthony, 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, 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) 

Data Story: South Sudan’s Fiscal Year 2021/22 Budget

By Okot Emmanuel

South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has proposed a budget worth 287 billion South Sudanese Pounds for the Fiscal Year 2021/22.

The Finance Minister, Agak Achuil Lual says the government proposes to spend a total of SSP 287.0 billion which represents 12.8% of the country’s GDP estimated at SSP 2.241.0 trillion.

The 2021/2022 budget proposes increased allocation to the social sector (education, health, social and humanitarian affairs). Allocation to the social sector increased to SSP 80.2 billion from SSP 312.2 billion in FY 2020/2021.

Allocation to the education sector is SSP 49.2 billion which indicates an increase of SSP 24.7 billion which represents 100.8 per cent compared to the FY 2020/2021 allocation of SSP 24.5 billion.  

Similarly allocation to the health sector of SSP 27.7 billion (of which SSP 9.0 billion is earmarked to combat COVID19 pandemic) the provision of SSP 27.7 billion to the health sector interprets to an increase of 575.6 per cent compared to the SSP 4.1 billion allocations in FY 2020/2021 budget. 

The budget allocation to the social and Humanitarian Affairs sector of SSP 3.3 billion has increased by 26.9 per cent compared to the FY 2020/2021 allocation of SSP 2.6 billion.

Of this amount, as stated by Acuil, SSP 169.3 billion or 7.6% will be financed by domestic revenues while SSP 77.4 billion which represent 3.5% will be through credit (i.e. concessional loans) from cooperating partners.

The balance of SSP 40.3 billion, which represents 1.8% will be financed through commercial borrowing.

Revenue Sources for Financing the FY 2021/22 Budget
SourceAmount in SSPPercentage (out of GDP)
Domestic Revenues169.3 billion7.6 %
Credit from cooperating partners (Concessional Loans)
77.4 billion

3.5%
Commercial borrowing 40.3 billion1.8 %

The budget aims at stimulating economic recovery and reducing inflation from 22.8 in the fiscal year 2020/2021 to 16.3 per cent.

The Finance Ministry further said the FY 2021/2022 Budget is to consolidate peace, combat the COVID-19 pandemic and increase investment in physical infrastructure.  

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, 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: 14.69% drop in the number of pupils registered for final primary education examinations this year

The previous year, 64,138 candidates enrolled for the exams, but only 62,362 sat, comprising 32,549 males and 20,693 females. This year, 53,220 candidates; 31,232 males, and 21,988 females registered.

By Adut Maguil

Last week, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction stated that 53,220 candidates, 31,232 men, and 21,988 females, had registered for the next certificate of primary education examinations, which will begin on February 14, 2022.

However, as compared to the previous year, when 64,138 candidates enrolled for the exams, 62,362 sat for the exams, comprising 32,549 males and 20,693 females, this year’s number shows a 14.69 percent decrease in the number of candidates.

Male candidates declined by 1,317 from 32,549 in the 2020/21 exams, while female candidates grew by 1,295 from 20,692 the previous year.

YearMalesFemalesTotal
2020/2132,54920,69362,362
2021/2231,23221,98853,220
Table Showing Number of Candidates Registered for the Primary Education Examination in the two most recent years

Security issues in some parts of the country, the detrimental impact of COVID-19, which resulted in protracted school closures, and the destructive floods, according to Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of General Education and Instruction are some of the reasons for the low number of candidates.

About the Authors:

Adut Maguil, 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, 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

Top 14 Leading South Sudanese Facebook Pages in 2021

Here’s our list of 14 very interactive South Sudanese pages on Facebook. Together, all these pages have nearly five million followers! Some of them represent South Sudanese-famous personalities, mainstream and alternative media.

By Adut Maguil

Facebook is one of the most liked social media platform today. It has had a grip over young and mature persons for over 12 years. Millions of people have access to the Internet most of whom use Facebook accounts to do various things.

Facebook is a great way to stay connected and get to know who is in your social circle but it is also an easy way to keep tabs on your favorite celebrities and big public figures. You can connect with their regular posts by simply following their page on Facebook to receive instant updates if you’re a true fan.

These profiles post photos and videos about varied things. Some of them are updates about their products and business as a marketing option. Some others upload photos of their loved ones, funny podcasts, food recipes and so on. In the end, the most important thing is to keep viewers entertained

People use social media, such as Facebook, all the time. Maybe to see what their friends are doing, to read the news. Many famous persons, brands and even football teams have fan pages in this platform.

In this article, we will review the top 14 South Sudanese Facebook pages that have had huge interaction in 2021.

Quick Glance at the 14 leading South Sudanese pages on Facebook by category:

Category 1: Mainstream Media

  1. Eye Radio

Total Interactions = 1,198,277 | Owned Total Views = 4,124,572

Total Posts = 3,253 | Page Followers = 155,363

Page Follower Growth % = 81.10%

2. Radio Tamazuj

Total Interactions = 212,291 | Owned Total Views = 2,837,308

Total Posts = 1,580 | Page Followers = 156,145

Page Follower Growth % = 21.92%

3. Radio Miraya

Total Interactions = 211,151 | Owned Total Views = 5,487

Total Posts = 1,229 | Page Followers = 76,076

Page Follower Growth % = 19.50%

4. SSBC News

Total Interactions = 167,932 | Owned Total Views = 5,060,430

Total Posts = 332 | Page Followers = 110,535

Page Follower Growth % = 40.42%

5. Advance Digital

Total Interactions = 166,731 | Owned Total Views = 2,573,452

Total Posts = 1,575 | Page Followers = 88,540

Page Follower Growth % = 364.80%

6. Sudan Tribune

Total Interactions = 94,891 | Total Posts = 335

Page Followers = 107,796 | Page Follower Growth % = 17.69%

7. 88.4 City FM, Juba

Total Interactions = 79,565  | Owned Total Views = 34,928

Total Posts = 314 | Page Followers = 46,138

Page Follower Growth % = 23.46%

8. Radio Bakhita

Total Interactions = 73,826 | Owned Total Views = 1,057,870

Total Posts = 510 | Page Followers = 33,411

Page Follower Growth % = 37.30%

9. Nyamilepedia

Total Interactions = 56,478 | Owned Total Views = 42,497

Total Posts = 1,623 | Page Followers = 28,210

Page Follower Growth % = 7.70%

10. Sudans Post

Total Interactions = 49,995 | Owned Total Views = 225,370

Total Posts = 2,869  | Page Followers = 15,537

Page Follower Growth % = 38.06%

11. CLASSIC FM 92.4

Total Interactions = 31,759 | Owned Total Views = 7,715

Total Posts = 1,141 | Page Followers = 16,871

Page Follower Growth % = 24.03%

12. Radio One 87.9 FM South Sudan

Total Interactions = 25,298 | Owned Total Views = 114,258

Total Posts = 689 | Page Followers = 15,838

Page Follower Growth % = 63.84%

13. The City Review Digital

Total Interactions = 25,034 | Owned Total Views = 145

Total Posts = 2,192 | Page Followers = 2,476

Page Follower Growth % = 141.09%

14. Capital Fm 89.0 Juba

Total Interactions = 23,234 | Owned Total Views = 81,607

Total Posts = 627 | Page Followers = 16,503

Page Follower Growth % = 67.22%

Category 2: Alternative Media

  1. Visit South Sudan           

Total Interactions = 1,824,937 | Owned Total Views = 391,335     

Total Posts = 3,134 | Page Followers = 93,662     

Page Follower Growth % = 286.94%

2. Juba Eye             

Total Interactions = 1,429,127 | Owned Total Views = 8,270,305 

Total Posts = 2,766 | Page Followers = 203,164   

Page Follower Growth % = 29.33%

3. Hot in Juba        

Total Interactions = 1,088,369 | Owned Total Views = 2,988,615 

Total Posts = 2,672 | Page Followers = 218,367   

Page Follower Growth % = 15.61%

4. South Sudan bro             

Total Interactions = 867,263 | Owned Total Views = 141,738        

Total Posts = 2,793 | Page Followers = 53,871     

Page Follower Growth % = 51.17%

5. Juba TV

Total Interactions = 722,758 | Owned Total Views = 1,188,929     

Total Posts = 2,618 | Page Followers = 283,302   

Page Follower Growth % = 6.53%

6. Smart Family TV              

Total Interactions = 605,813 | Owned Total Views = 261,591        

Total Posts = 1,032 | Page Followers = 75,653     

Page Follower Growth % = 47.19%

7. Bentiu tv             

Total Interactions = 494,683 | Owned Total Views = 18,339,809  

Total Posts = 985 | Page Followers = 146,604       

Page Follower Growth % = 185.11%

8. Junub celebz    

Total Interactions = 359,321 | Owned Total Views = 1,328,825     

Total Posts = 1,360 | Page Followers = 56,911     

Page Follower Growth % = 188.08%

9. Northern Corridor Morning Post              

Total Interactions = 339,523 | Owned Total Views = 126,705        

Total Posts = 2,705 | Page Followers = 99,434     

Page Follower Growth % = 12.83%

10. SSDGuna.com  

Total Interactions = 332,072 | Owned Total Views = 393,520        

Total Posts = 2,006 | Page Followers = 44,751     

Page Follower Growth % = 125.13%

11. Twic Media Reports      

Total Interactions = 311,736 | Owned Total Views = 2,569,410     

Total Posts = 1,707 | Page Followers = 46,679     

Page Follower Growth % = 104.57%

12. Southsudan TMZ             

Total Interactions = 232,938 | Owned Total Views = 2,193,968     

Total Posts = 1,611 | Page Followers = 87,377     

Page Follower Growth % = 35.93%

13. South Sudan Anataban 

Total Interactions = 198,892 | Owned Total Views = 16,497           

Total Posts = 778 | Page Followers = 47,607         

Page Follower Growth % = 52.69%

14. South Sudan Digital       

Total Interactions = 156,284 | Owned Total Views = 1,199,502     

Total Posts = 805 | Page Followers = 70,301         

Page Follower Growth % = 37.88%

Category 3: Personalities

  1. Penton Keah     

Total Interactions = 4,220,859 | Owned Total Views = 129,989,670            

Total Posts = 109 | Followers = 663,919 

Page Follower Growth % = 797.26%

2. Slate Nation      

Total Interactions = 1,430,606 | Owned Total Views = 298,239     

Total Posts = 408 | Followers = 280,918

Page Follower Growth % = 62.20%

3. John Frog

Total Interactions = 1,235,283 | Owned Total Views = 667,266

Total Posts = 602 | Followers = 112,354

Page Follower Growth % = 157.81%

4. Silver X

Total Interactions = 1,195,292 | Owned Total Views = 1,516,678 

Total Posts = 1,241 | Followers = 190,148

Page Follower Growth % = 210.86%

5. Lady Kola

Total Interactions = 1,029,422 | Owned Total Views = 10,668,611

Total Posts = 624 | Followers = 181,548 

Page Follower Growth % = 710.59%

6. Achai Wiir          

Total Interactions = 1,003,176 | Owned Total Views = 3,635,829

Total Posts = 265 | Followers = 250,560 

Page Follower Growth % = 65.07%

7. Dynamq              

Total Interactions = 933,976 | Owned Total Views = 693,812

Total Posts = 974 | Followers = 75,564    

Page Follower Growth % = 28.89%

8. K-Denk

Total Interactions = 879,271 | Owned Total Views = 378,618

Total Posts = 1,732 | Followers = 173,572

Page Follower Growth % = 16.08%

9. ADAWAY            

Total Interactions = 811,505 | Owned Total Views = 74,104

Total Posts = 300 | Followers = 104,485 

Page Follower Growth % = 175.18%

10. Dj-Cent Mr No Rest        

Total Interactions = 511,346 | Owned Total Views = 318,166        

Total Posts = 990 | Followers = 40,742    

Page Follower Growth % = 401.44%

11. Promota Kay Two           

Total Interactions = 494,042 | Owned Total Views = 1,240,353     

Total Posts = 767 | Followers = 134,775 

Page Follower Growth % = 118.23%

12. Max Jay

Total Interactions = 485,231 | Owned Total Views = 320,163        

Total Posts = 1,492 | Followers = 54,150

Page Follower Growth % = 192.80%

13. Hardlife Avenue Stars   

Total Interactions = 477,757 | Owned Total Views = 2,837,994     

Total Posts = 903 | Followers = 73,561    

Page Follower Growth % = 677.93%

14. Mary Boyoi       

Total Interactions = 426,878 | Owned Total Views = 663,600        

Total Posts = 256 | Followers = 98,774    

Page Follower Growth % = 1562.86%

15. Ajak Deng Chiengkou   

Total Interactions = 373,882 | Owned Total Views = 4,944,076     

Total Posts = 593 | Followers = 238,363 

Page Follower Growth % = 27.32%

There’s our list of 14 very interactive South Sudanese pages on Facebook. Have you ever thought deeply about this? When describing those leading 15 Facebook pages a normal user will see how important they are in the country to be on the top list. Together, all those pages have nearly five million followers! Some of them represent South Sudanese-famous personalities, mainstream and alternative media.

The number of likes and followers of an account indicates the interest or popularity of a specific person, brand, or product and that is why likes have way much importance on social media platforms like Facebook as they play a very vital role in building up a reputation on the Internet. Similarly, the popularity level on Facebook is also calculated by the number of fan base and interactions. Knowing about the leading pages on Facebook in the country is impressive.

About the Authors:

Adut Maguil, 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, 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: Are South Sudanese Artists Benefiting From YouTube? An Analysis of 08 Channels

By David Uku

South Sudan faces the challenge of copyright–ownership of the song, songwriter, and video production as creative works, which is one of the most serious issues confronting and impeding the development of the music industry in South Sudan as a new country in East Africa with vast cultural diversity.

Furthermore, like most artists’ performances in the music era, many fans do not pay their Artist for the effort they put in as musicians, and the Artists complain.

In other parts of the world, an artist’s financial success is often derived from revenue generated by their fans attending their show, downloading the video, or viewing their YouTube channel, because YouTube channels use algorithms, and if more people suggest the song, the view will rise as the song becomes top searches and suggested on YouTube, and money will flow in.

How do South Sudanese artists benefit from YouTube? 211 Check used the Social blade to analyze the artists’ songs on YouTube to determine how much money they make from their YouTube channel activities.

 SILVER X

The Best Male Artist of the year 2018 and Eye Radio Awards 2019 and he give himself the nickname Music machine as the most produced music in the country, he created his channel on 23 July 2016 until now his channel reached subscribers (2.95K) and videos views (159,034) and has uploaded (85) videos on his channel.

On 14-09-2021 Silver X published a new video song on YouTube called (Monia), the video was shot-in Uganda- Kampala in high quality because of the lack of data we didn’t know the cost of video producer but according to the social blade that we used to analysis revenue of each video or song on YouTube.

That makes it easier for us to see how much money the song Monia from the first day it was published until now the results show it has (13.6k) Views, (330) comments on YouTube and the revenue is only ($7-$54) according to the social blade analysis.

 LADY KOLA

Lady Kola, who creates most of the beautiful things that go into making wonderful music, has music. She is known as Music Sankara and is also a DJ and Model; she started her channel on September 25, 2019 and has since gained 9.55K subscribers, 69,690 video views, and uploaded (12) videos.

According to the social blade analysis, on 10-09-2021, the Queen of Shamashin Lady Kola published a new video song on YouTube called (Toronto), and how much money the song Toronto from the first day it was published until now the results show it has (11.3k) views, (79) comments on YouTube, and the revenue is only ($6-$45).

MARY BOYOI,

Mary Boyoi always said “I am taking South Sudan music to international level kalas”  she created her channel on 05 Jan 2012 until now his channel reached subscribers (25.8K) and videos views (3,252,954) and uploaded (51) videos on his channels.

On 16-07-2021 Mary Boyoi as a first Lady published a new video song on YouTube called (Marry me kalas), from the first day it was published until now the results show it has (23.2k) Views, (46) comments on YouTube and the revenue is only ($12-$93) according to the social blade analysis.

DJ CENT MR NO REST,

MR NO REST, he Named himself like that because he works all-time at music to produce more work as he always said DJ cent Mr No Rest; he creates his channel on 08th March 2017 until now his channel reach subscribers (2.54K) and videos views (158,213) and upload (52) videos on his channels.

On 19-09-2021 DJ Cent Mr No Rest publish a new video song on YouTube called (Binia Wau), from the first day it was published until now the results show it has (7.4k) Views, (44) comments on YouTube and the revenue is only ($4-$30) according to the social blade analysis.

Hardlife Avenue Stars,

“Hardlife Avenue” is a reference to the difficult time and struggles of life, the music is popular in Afro-pop, Rap and Vocal. As the greatest music group  in the country, they created their channel on 06 Sept 2016 until now they have subscribers (7.31K) and video views (1,223,169) and uploaded (85) videos on their channels.

On 18-07-2021 Hardlife Avenue Stars published a new video song on YouTube called (Ana Yau Bi Arif), which is the hit song on Social Media this year, the first day it was published until now the results show it has (88.6k) Views, (123) comments on YouTube and the revenue is only ($44-$354) according to the social blade analysis.

Dynamq,

The founder of Ruka Music and Ruka film and River Nile Crocodile Sudanese Son, besides he is a Singer, Songwriter, sound producer, dancehall and professional DJ. He created his channel on 05 09 2007 until now his channel reached subscribers (11.7K) and videos views (5,457,922) and uploaded (21) videos on his channel.

On 11-01-2013 Dynamq the African DJ that represents South Sudan and Africa in the JAMROCK REGGAE CRUISE SOUND annual festival happening every year in Jamaica, the festival is about love and unity he published a video song on YouTube called (Those days in Nairobi), from the first day it published until now the results show it has (1.1M) Views, (774) comments on YouTube and the revenue are only ($55-$44) according to the social blade analysis.

 Emmanuel Jal,

The author of “War Child: A Child Soldier’s Story”  in his music he mixes Rap in Arabic, English, Dinka and Nuer. The symbolism of unity as music guides him to express ideas of peace and unity. He created his channel on 26 07 2009 until now his channel reached subscribers (9.38K) and videos views (1643,418) and uploaded (110) videos on his channels.

On 25-11-2021 Emmanuel Jal publish a new video song on YouTube called Hey Mama, from the first day it was published until now the results show it has (72.9k) Views, (145) comments on YouTube and the revenue is only ($36-$291) according to the social blade analysis.

 Yaba Angelosi,

The founder of Assida Records and Assida Films, his music mixes catchy African traditional sounds with Western dance music using modern instrumentation and arrangements, he plays guitar, bass, piano and drums above all he is a Singer, Songwriter, sound producer, Film director, and entertainer he created his channel on 15 March 2009 until now his channel gained subscribers (5.36K) and videos views (2,292,498) and uploaded (52) videos on his channels.

On 14-01-2021 DJ Yaba Angelosi published a new video song on YouTube called Something about You, from the first day it was published until now the results show it has (127.8k) Views, (138) comments on YouTube and the revenue is only ($64-$511) according to the social blade analysis.

Conclusion:

211 Check analysis notes that all South Sudanese artists that have channels on YouTube put countries other than South Sudan. For example, Silver X, Hardlife Avenue Stars and Mary Boyoi registered Kenya as the country and Lady Kola created her channel in Uganda, only DJ Cent Mr No Rest didn’t show the Country, Dynamq and Yaba Angelosi created their channels in the United State of America and Emmanuel Jal Create his channel in Canada.

Even the Channel Type; Only Yaba Angelosi and Mary Boyoi have Channel Type for Music, Emmanuel Jal his Channel Type is Film and Dynamq his channel Type is Entertainment and the rest have no Channel Type. This report does not highlight all artists with channels on YouTube but the view of this report analysis is to let the artists know that they have much work to do on their YouTube channels so as to generate more money and more followers; they need to be more flexible on sharing data about producing video so as to make work better to compare revenue generated by Channel and budget of the production.

Most artists should also sign up for the YouTube Partner Programme. This requires them to have at least 1,000 subscribers and have a minimum of 4,000 video watch hours in 12 months so that they can draw in a bigger audience and increase their streams.

About the Authors:

David Uku, 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, 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: 90 Killed by a Strange Disease in Fangak County

By Deng Ghai Deng

Authorities in South Sudan’s Jonglei state are calling for urgent intervention as people and livestock die in alarming numbers after showing symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and general body weakness in Fangak County

Fangak County Commissioner Boutrus Biel says since early November, dozens of people – mostly children and the elderly – have died after experiencing symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and heart pain. Biel says about 90 people including 44 children, 27 elderly and 8 young people have so far died from the disease.

Table Showing Number of People Killed By the Strange Disease

CategoryNumber of Deaths
Children44
Adults08
Elderly27
Total90

“People are dying in Fangak County. There was sudden death and it started on the 2nd of October within the new Fangak town which is the headquarters of the county and also within the surrounding villages of Fangak County. Any time a person dies especially the children, the young ones and the elderly people. So far, we have lost 90 people, the record is that over 90 people have died. We are wondering whether it’s the impact of an oil explosion or something else.”

Table Showing Deaths and Recoveries

Deaths90
Recoveries30
Total Infections120

Commissioner Biel says cattle, sheep and goats are also dying in the area. He says the area has been submerged in floodwaters for some time and local officials suspect the deaths could be linked to toxic water pollution caused by an oil spill.

“The cattle and goats have been dying because of water. You could see thing they are all grassing in water. Some people are taking their cattle to Malakal- the dry area- some are going to Pigi County in the site of cannel; some have gone across the river to Shuluk land and as far as Ruweng administrative areas. These are challenging times now for Fangak County, cattle are really dying and when there are no cattle it becomes difficult because that is the livelihood of the people.”

Commissioner Biel says he wrote to Jonglei state Governor Denay Jock Chagor about the deaths in Fangak, asking for an urgent intervention.

Responding to the calls, the Director-General of Preventive Health Services at the Ministry of Health, says a team of health professionals has already been organized and has been dispatched to the area.

“One important recommendation is to deploy a national response team to Fangak to investigate the reported increased morbidity and mortality in the area,” Dr. Romunu told reporters.

According to Dr. Joseph Francis Wamala, a Senior Epidemiologist at the W.H.O, the team will collect samples from the environment and those affected.

“There is actually a lack of a full range for all the other basic needs. So these teams will have the national response team and they will collect samples from those who are affected,” Dr. Wamala said.

Tuong Majok, the acting governor of Jonglei state says he notified national authorities about the situation in Fangak County after visiting the area with WHO and UNMISS officials.

“A team of World Health Organization, UNMISS and other agencies plus myself went to the location where the outbreak has taken place. It came to the surface of the water like oil and that’s why people are saying it is oil. We have reported this to the national government; the state has no experts. We reported it to the ministry of petroleum and the ministry of environment so that they can go to the location and see with their own eyes what the cause of this eruption is.” Majok said

Acting governor Majok says an investigation must be carried out immediately to avert a catastrophe. ASCOM is an oil and gas corporation from Moldova that operated in the area but left the country after the start of the conflict in December, 2013. Majok says an environmental impact assessment has not been conducted since the petroleum firm stopped operations in Fangak County more than seven years ago.

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, 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-month 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: More than 500 children continue to roam in the streets of Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State

By Ngor Deng Matem

As the number of children living on the streets in South Sudan remains constant, a Data Speaks program researched and investigated the lives of these children in NBGs-Aweil.

According to the data gathered, the state’s ministry of gender and social welfare has confirmed the presence of 513 street children.

Joseph Madut Mou, the state Director of Social Welfare says the data was gathered during an assessment they made in February 2021. The majority of street children, according to Madut, are orphans, most of whom between the ages of six and fifteen.

The assessment was carried out with the goal of identifying the number of street children and the reasons why they are subjected to street life. Some of the identified children were collected and transported from Aweil town to a distance of more than 50 kilometers in Aweil West county (Malek Mayar village) for transformation through studies and child care services.

Table Showing Number of Street Children in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal per County

CountyMaleFemaleTotal
Aweil Town Municipality 213104317
Aweil South County343266
Aweil East County211031
Aweil West County231235
Aweil North County331346
Aweil Center County130518
Total337176513
Table Showing Number of Street Children in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal per County

The 105 children aged six to fifteen were collected in four locations: Naivasha, Sikadiet, Aweil Madina, and Maper Market. A local nonprofit organization, Community Empowerment & Peacebuilding Organization, is helping these 105 children.

Mr. Wol Wieu, CEO of Community Empowerment & Peacebuilding Organization (CEBO), stated that the 105 children housed at their center face enormous challenges. 

Table Showing Supported and Unsupported Street Children in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State

Number of Supported Children105
Number of Unsupported Children408
Total Number of Street Children513
Table Showing Supported and Unsupported Street Children in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State

Children are accommodated and enrolled in a community school called Ayat West Primary school.

Ayat primary school was already hosting  a total of 450 school learners that came from their homes.

During the assessment, Mr. Wol said that these children were registered by Save the children organization with no support rendered.

Challenges facing street children in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal

  • Lack of clean drinking water, bedding (children sleep on local mats)
  • Lack of shelters/accommodation (Children are accommodated in local grass thatched houses)
  • Lack of scholastic materials such as exercise and text books, uniforms among others.

Management & Operationalization Of Child Care Center:

16 teachers are being employed but 8 of them are volunteers. Also two social workers were also employed to take charge of children.

Reasons That Force Children To Street

Some of the common reasons that push children to the streets include: death of parents, displacement of people due to violence, abject poverty and lack of parental care or support

Recommendations:

The following suggestions can help combat the issue of street children: Ending violence and child abuse requires effective advocacy that is supported by training.

Agricultural empowerment in order to promote farming and independence

Child protection organizations must advocate for funding to support organizations that implement projects for children in order to provide education and better health care.

About the Authors:

Ngor Deng Matem, 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, 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 visualization 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 Losing Battle Against Infant Mortality

As late as 2019, infant mortality rate in South Sudan remained among some of the highest in Africa.

By Charles Lotara

Ten years before South Sudan attained independence in 2011, the infant mortality rate was already alarming with 44,508 children dying annually before reaching age five. Boys accounted for 23,395 of this tally compared to 21,113 girls. That was as late as 2001.

This mortality ratio was attributed to inadequate midwifery services in the country. According to Global Health Workforce Alliance, a subsidiary of the World Health Organization, the ratio of midwives in the country was 1 per 38,088 populations. This was even so after the referendum.

The above factor was also compounded by the unavailability of a formal system for the supervision and support of nursing and midwifery practice in the country, especially at state level. 

Similarly, at national stage, there was no legal and regulatory framework guiding midwifery practice according to a 2011 report from the Ministry of Health titled Special Supplement: Development of Nursing and Midwifery Services in South Sudan, produced in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

But amid the above challenges, the country had made strides on mitigating infant mortality. Data from the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reveals that 35,711 and 35,288 children (boys and girls) below five died in 2011 and 2012 respectively, a sharp drop from ten years earlier.

These improvements were a result of the creation of an ambitious Health Sector Development Plan spanning from 2011 – 2016 with emphasis on Strategic Plan for Human Resources for Health (HRH).

However, the country is witnessing a stunning reversal on the achievements it has made just two years after independence thanks to a protracted civil war which weakened a nascent health system. In 2013, 35,319, an increase of 13 children under five from 2012, died.

In 2015, the World Health Organisation documented that the probability of a child dying by age five was 90.7 percent in every 1000 live births. 

As late as 2019, the death toll of children aged five years and below rose to 36,916. This means the country has lost 1,597 children below five years within a seven-year span with male accounting for 852 of the total and females accounting for 588. 

This alarming trend is projected to continue if no urgent action is taken according to the World Health Organization.

Mortality Rate By Year

YearNumber of Infant Mortality
200144,508
201135,711
201235,288
201335,319
201936,916

Efforts made

Three years after the referendum, the national Ministry of Health crafted the National Health Policy, another ambitious initiative that was to run from 2016-2026, to provide the overall vision and strategic direction for development in the health sector and also curbing maternal mortality rate. 

Dubbed the NHP, the initiative was to be implemented through two five-year strategic plans: 2016 -2021 and 2021-2026. The policy – the government said at the time – draws its mandate from the Transitional Constitution, Vision 2040, the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP), and that it was cognizant of the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. 

The overall goal of the NHP was to deliver a strengthened national health system and partnerships that overcome barriers to effective delivery of the Basic Package of Health and Nutrition Services and a system that efficiently responds to quality and safety concerns of communities while protecting the people from impoverishment and social risk.

No much change 

Six years later, the aforementioned initiatives have done very little to improve the health system and in particular, service delivery at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, especially at the country’s main referral health facility, Juba Teaching Hospital. 

Most health infrastructures remain dilapidated; essential medical and surgical equipment are either outdated or lacking. The management and human resource capacity has weakened. 

The World Health Organisation says the Nongovernmental Organisations are still responsible for 80% of the country’s health service delivery, which complicates the coordination of service delivery.

In its Country Cooperation Agenda 2014 – 2019, the first priority of the World Health Organisation was to contribute to the reduction of maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality. By the year 2019, the infant mortality rate was the highest since 2011.

The World Health Organisation did very little to provide technical support for the development and implementation of policies, strategies and plans for integrated maternal, newborn, and child health. 

Support for the Ministry of Health to improve the accessibility and availability of integrated maternal, newborn, and child health services at all levels of the health system has stalled and the promise to ensure accessibility and availability of emergency obstetric and newborn care within the primary health care and referral system remained unfulfilled according to a report by the Global Health Observatory.

The future looks bleak. Development assistance has remained a major source of revenue for South Sudan, especially following the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic that sparked a sharp fall in oil prices and shrinking national revenue. 

As countries around the world fret over the spread of the omicron variant, possibilities of another lockdown are imminent. This could further affect oil production and national revenue which would otherwise be used to revamp the health sector and curb the runaway infant mortality rate.

To break beyond this uncertainty, the government must utilise funding from the non-oil revenue and development assistance from the donor community and adjust the national budget for the health sector. This could significantly reduce the worrying trend of infant mortality.

Background information

Since the inception of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, the Ministry of Health, through the Department of Reproductive Health, has been putting in place systems and mechanisms for coordinating the integration, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of Sexual and Reproductive Health services in South Sudan.

Based on data from 2006, five years before the referendum, the country had arguably the highest maternal mortality ratio in the world with 2,057 children per 100,000 live births dying before the age of five. 

In 2011 and 2012, health partners, including the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund, scaled up support to the country’s health sector. This saw a significant reduction in the ratio of infant deaths. 

Two years after independence, the government maintained efforts to eradicate infant deaths. It is against this background that in 2013, the Family Planning Policy was launched.

One of the aims of this policy was to provide comprehensive and integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services in line with the recommendations of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Egyptian capital Cairo according to the then Minister of Health Dr. Michael Milly Hussein.  

The Ministry of Health noted that one in five women of reproductive age (15-49 years) has unmet needs for spacing or limiting childbirth. This, according to the government, has also contributed tremendously to the rise in infant mortality ratio.

In December 2013, civil war broke out. This further affected the already-faltering health system and jeopardised the efforts to eradicate infant mortality rate even after the conflict.

The Family Planning Policy also provided that obstetricians give expectant mothers the necessary guidelines required to ensure safe delivery. However, this has not been implemented. Instead, obstetricians who go for months without salaries have been blamed for negligence.

As late as 2019, infant mortality rate in South Sudan remained among some of the highest in Africa. But the government is confident that the Family Planning Policy crafted eight years ago will promote an integrated approach in studies to provide insights in the development of culturally accepted and appropriate materials to be used for safe motherhood and family planning services.

About the Authors:

Charles Lotara, 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, 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 two-month and half 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 two months and half (October to Mid December) 

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