Armed clashes broke out early Tuesday at Paloch Airport in Melut County, Upper Nile State, between two factions of the National Security Service’s operations unit, leaving at least four people wounded.
Paloch is an oil complex where a key crude oil processing facility is situated. It lies about 140 km (90 miles) from Malakal.
Melut County Commissioner Chok Zain Arop told Radio Tamazuj that a group of operations forces had defied orders by abandoning their post at the Adar oilfield and marching toward Paloch Airport in an attempt to return to Juba.
“Despite repeated directives to remain in Paloch and not go back to Juba, the group refused to comply,” Commissioner Zain said. “The national security leadership then ordered their disarmament, leading to an exchange of gunfire.”
He added: “The battalion of the National Security Service’s operations unit was brought from Juba and deployed to Adar in March, but some of them defied orders and decided to return to Juba.”
The leadership of the operations unit arranged to transport the forces by vehicle to their headquarters, but the group instead fled toward the airport in an attempt to fly back to Juba.
“They marched on foot from Adar to Paloch Airport, but their commanders persuaded them to use vehicles instead,” Zain said. “Their commanders in Juba then decided to disarm them, which led to clashes at the airport.”
The four wounded were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, he said.
Authorities confirmed that the situation has since stabilized, with normal flight operations resuming.
“The group has been arrested and is now in custody at the division. One person is missing after sustaining gunshot wounds, but I can confirm the situation has returned to normal,” Zain said.
He described the clash as “limited” and swiftly contained but acknowledged that it caused panic among locals, particularly foreign oil workers in the area.
A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the clashes erupted after the rogue unit demanded to return to Juba, leading to gunfire among National Security Service members inside the airport.
Some soldiers fled into nearby forests during the clashes, the source said.
Though calm has been restored, residents remain on high alert amid lingering tensions.