South Sudan is grappling with a surge in armed confrontations across several regions, raising fears that the fragile peace achieved under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) could collapse.
Reports indicate that Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, and parts of Greater Upper Nile have witnessed fresh clashes involving government forces, SPLA-IO under Dr. Riek Machar, and other armed groups.
According to CEPO (Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation) the renewed violence underscores the deepening political deadlock that has persisted since March this year.
“We are aware that some parts of the country are already experiencing pockets of active military confrontation,” said Edmund Yakani, CEPO Executive Director.
Yakani appealed to President Salva Kiir and leaders of peace implementation mechanisms to heed the unanimous call by the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council for an inclusive political dialogue. He stressed that such dialogue is critical to defuse tensions and rescue the peace agreement from collapse.
“This is the moment under your leadership to make a remarkable decision. An inclusive political dialogue is the only way to transition from violence to peace genuinely,” Yakani urged, warning that the continued political impasse risks eroding the legitimacy of R-ARCSS.
The resurgence of violence has disrupted education, displaced families, and inflicted fresh suffering on civilians already battered by years of conflict. “This is the cry of the suffering citizens in the bushes, of the children missing school, of the wounded South Sudanese,” Yakani added.
Observers note that the patience of international partners is wearing thin, with recent diplomatic messages signaling waning confidence in the country’s leaders. The call for dialogue has become urgent, as every delay brings South Sudan closer to another devastating conflict.
