Water & Early Warning: UNITAR and the World Meteorological Organization used the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum to push stronger water capacity and early warning systems for SDG 6, with South Sudan among co-conveners. Cross-Border Trade Security: Kenya says it has agreed a joint framework with South Sudan to tackle harassment and extortion of truck drivers along the Juba–Nimule corridor, a key route for food, fuel and construction goods. Higher Education Policy: South Sudan’s Higher Education minister vowed to ease high taxation and speed up accreditation for private universities, after complaints from university representatives. Food Security Alarm: A UN report estimates 645 million people faced hunger in 2025; global hunger is improving, but nutrition progress—especially for women and children—remains too slow. Oil Sector Governance: Unions threaten to boycott South Sudan’s NSIF symposium over governance and implementation concerns, demanding a more credible national social insurance scheme. Development Planning: The Finance Ministry has started consultations for South Sudan’s 10-year Development Plan (2026–2036), gathering state and local inputs. Fuel Price Pressure: Residents in several states say fuel prices remain high despite drops in Juba, keeping transport and food costs elevated. Ebola Funding: The AfDB pledged $13m to support Ebola response in DRC, South Sudan and Uganda as the outbreak accelerates. Aviation & Connectivity: Airo-Jet Airlines launched flights to Yambio (Mon/Wed/Fri), offering tickets at $140 to boost regional movement for business and humanitarian needs.