The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has ordered civilians to immediately evacuate areas under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army–In Opposition (SPLA-IO) in parts of Jonglei State, citing the need to protect civilians and minimize collateral damage during military operations.
In a statement issued on December 30, 2025, by the Directorate of Media and Press, SSPDF leadership directed civilians living near military barracks, assembly points, and rally areas to leave without delay.
The order specifically affects Lou-Nuer counties of Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo.
According to the statement signed by SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the evacuation is intended to prevent civilians from being exposed to danger or used as human shields during what the army described as “phases of military operations.”
“The SSPDF command hereby orders civilians to immediately evacuate areas under the control of SPLA-IO, especially those in close proximity to barracks, assembly and rally areas,” the statement read, adding that the directive is meant to “avoid and minimize collateral damage.”
The announcement, made from the SSPDF General Headquarters in Bilpam, has triggered anxiety among civilians and observers, particularly as it comes during the Christmas season and ahead of a fragile political transition expected in early January 2026.
Reacting to the order, Mr. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), described the directive as “worrying and seriously disturbing,” warning that it could signal a renewal of war in the affected areas.
“Ordering civilians to evacuate SPLA-IO-controlled areas in Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo sounds like a new declaration of war,” Yakani said, arguing that the safety and protection of civilians no longer appear to be a priority for the rival forces.
Yakani further criticized both SSPDF and SPLA-IO for what he called a continued reliance on military solutions to political disagreements, warning that clashes reported in parts of Jonglei during the festive period demonstrate a dangerous return to armed confrontation.
“The wages of military confrontation between SSPDF and SPLA-IO in parts of Jonglei State, even during Christmas, demonstrate a renewed military approach to resolving political disagreements,” he said.
The civil society leader cautioned that the mismanagement of the political transition in early 2026 could significantly increase the risk of South Sudan sliding back into full-scale war, nearly a decade after the conflict erupted in 2013.
“It is beyond tolerance to continue seeing citizens repeatedly displaced as internally displaced persons or refugees since 2013,” Yakani said. “Children are growing up amid gunfire and military confrontations instead of peace.”
CEPO urged the leadership of both SSPDF and SPLA-IO to immediately abandon military strategies and recommit to dialogue, calling on national stakeholders, citizens, and regional and international actors to intensify pressure for a peaceful political solution.
Yakani also appealed to IGAD, the African Union, and the United Nations to intervene urgently, warning that failure to act could lead to South Sudan fragmenting into multiple armed groups that would be increasingly difficult to mediate.
“If South Sudan breaks into pockets of armed groups fighting each other, mediation will become extremely difficult,” he warned.
The evacuation order underscores growing tensions in Jonglei, a state long affected by conflict, displacement, and inter-communal violence, and raises fresh concerns about the durability of the country’s already fragile peace process.
