A coordinated security operation is underway in Jonglei State, where a joint force comprised of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), police, and the National Security Service (NSS) has moved into a cluster of volatile fishing islands long plagued by inter-communal violence.
Saturday’s deployment follows years of tension and deadly confrontations between rival youth groups from the Hol community in Duk County and the Ayual community of Twic East.
The contested islands including Biothagany, Lang, Paluat, Panom, Kwai, Sedaf, and Dong, have become flashpoints for conflict dating back to 2023, driven largely by competition over rich fishing grounds and claims of ownership.
Speaking in Bor town before the forces set out, Jonglei State Information Minister Nyamar Lony Thichiot emphasized the urgency of the operation, linking it directly to the state government’s broader push to end recurring communal clashes.
“The deployment of the joint forces is vital for resolving the ongoing communal conflict between the Hol community of Duk County and the Ayual community of Twic East County,” Nyamar said.
“The state government remains committed to ending inter-communal violence that has claimed lives in these islands and elsewhere in Jonglei.”
Senior officers oversaw the mobilisation, including the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces for Operations, Gen. Koang Thou Koang; NSS Deputy Chief of Operations, Maj. Gen. Samuel Lueth Omot; and Police Operations Director, Maj. Gen. Mangar Atok Komic.
Their presence at the launch underscored the seriousness of the mission and the state’s determination to restore stability to the troubled region.
In a parallel move to reinforce the rule of law, Nyamar announced that Chief Justice Dr. Benjamin Baak Deng has directed the formation of a special court to prosecute suspects linked to the ongoing inter-communal fighting.
Rights groups and local leaders have long pushed for such a mechanism, arguing that accountability is key to breaking the cycle of revenge and violence.
“The Government of Jonglei State urges all local authorities, county commissioners, and traditional leaders to cooperate with the deployed security forces and the judges of the special court to restore law and order,” she said.
As the forces settle into their positions across the islands, residents are watching with cautious hope.
