Wang Deng is proud of, and passionate about, his country.

In 2002, the former soldier in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army was injured during a fierce battle on the frontlines of the war for independence in the city of Malakal in the Upper Nile region of South Sudan.

Regular patrols by peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan are helping restore calm to Tonj in the Warrap region which has suffered a recent spike in intercommunal violence related to cattle migration.

South Sudan’s President today announced the country will return to 10 states in a bid to end a tense-standoff with opposition parties just a week out from a deadline requiring the formation of a new transitional government.