Soldiers from South Sudan’s People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) on Monday afternoon captured the villages of Tiam and Wek, key opposition strongholds on the outskirts of Yuai town, as fighting intensified in northern Jonglei State.
The SSPDF clashed with a small number of Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) fighters and armed youth in the Wek and Tiam areas, according to local officials, who also reported the burning of huts during the fighting.
Yuai, a former SSPDF stronghold in Uror County, fell to SPLA-IO forces loyal to the detained First Vice President Riek Machar on January 2. Since then, the opposition SPLA-IO has consolidated its gains, overrunning Pajut town in Duk County and Wau town in Ayod County.
Tensions have continued to escalate, with senior military figures warning of further confrontation. On Sunday, the SSPDF announced that a military campaign dubbed “Operation Enduring Peace” was imminent in northern parts of Jonglei State to regain control of positions held by the SPLA-IO.
Sources said SPLA-IO forces had withdrawn in recent days from Pajut in Duk County ahead of the SSPDF advance for what they described as tactical reasons, before regrouping in Yuai and other areas of Uror County.
Gatluak Reat, a member of parliament representing Uror County in the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, told Radio Tamazuj that fighting on Monday had spread to Tiam Payam, located close to the county headquarters in Yuai and generally accessible within a few hours by car or on foot.
“Uror County is largely inaccessible because there is no communication network. However, I can confirm that there was fighting in Tiam Payam until Monday evening,” he said.
Peter Gatkuoth Koang, the opposition SPLM-IO commissioner for neighbouring Nyirol County, also confirmed the clashes to Radio Tamazuj, saying Tiam Payam and parts of Wek village in Wickol Payam had fallen to the SSPDF on Monday.
“After fighting on Monday, Tiam Payam and Wek, a village in Wickol Payam, fell to the SSPDF. The SSPDF forces also tried to advance further, but they were repulsed by our SPLA-IO forces in the Panyok area. Further confrontation is imminent because our forces are ready to face them,” he said.
“The government forces have also burned down Tiam and Wek, destroying civilian property,” he added.
The opposition official warned that fighting was likely to intensify.
“There has been heavy aerial bombardment targeting the Yuai and Karam areas for the past two days. Civilians have fled into the bush because of warnings that they will not be spared,” he said.
“On our side in Nyirol, fighting could break out at any time because some SSPDF soldiers are advancing from Pigi County. Our forces are monitoring the situation and we are ready. In Ayod, there was fighting in Wau Payam through Sunday and Monday morning, but the advancing SSPDF soldiers were repelled,” he added.
In a directive dated January 25 and signed by SSPDF spokesman Major General Lul Ruai Koang, the army ordered civilians in the Lou Nuer counties of Nyirol, Uror and Akobo to “evacuate for safety to government-controlled areas within 48 hours”.
The three counties are controlled by the SPLA-IO, led by the detained First Vice President Riek Machar. The order warned that “Operation Enduring Peace” would begin imminently.
Fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and the SPLA-IO, now commanded by Machar’s deputy Oyet Nathaniel, has intensified since December, particularly in northern Jonglei.
The SPLA-IO has seized several SSPDF positions in recent weeks, capturing garrisons in Waat, Yuai and Pajut. The army has since mobilised additional troops and pushed northwards in an effort to retake the areas.
Most government forces are currently stationed in Poktap and Padiet in Duk County.
Displacement of civilians
According to the latest updates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the humanitarian situation in central and northern Jonglei State is rapidly deteriorating amid escalating conflict, widespread displacement and shrinking humanitarian access.
UNOCHA said that as of January 26, more than 230,000 people had been displaced across Jonglei State since renewed fighting and airstrikes erupted on December 29 in Nyirol, Uror, Akobo and Duk counties.
The UN agency warned that ongoing insecurity and movement restrictions were severely limiting the delivery of aid, leaving thousands of displaced people without adequate food, shelter and medical assistance.
On January 24, South Sudan’s Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Anita Kiki Gbeho, met with the humanitarian affairs minister to review the crisis. They discussed reports of large-scale civilian displacement and agreed to work together to accelerate principled and pragmatic humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, UNOCHA said.
In response to the worsening situation, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator on January 22 approved an allocation of $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to address urgent, life-saving needs triggered by the escalating violence in Jonglei State.