South Sudan Sacks “Trousers Crackdown” Official

President Salva Kiir of Sudan’s semi-autonomous South has sacked a senior official who last week ordered a controversial crackdown on women wearing tight trousers. Kiir released an official statement Friday, sacking Juba County Commissioner Albert Pitia Redentore who had sanctioned the detention of 35 young women for “disturbing the peace” by dressing in tight trousers. Gender minister Mary Kiden also condemned the crackdown, saying it was evocative of the female dressing restrictions previously enforced by the country’s Muslim north, which South Sudanese insurgents fought for two decades. [PE]