Local officials in Jonglei urge armed forces to separate from civilians after Waat clashes

JUBA — Local officials in South Sudan’s Jonglei state have urged all armed forces operating in Lou Nuer areas to separate from civilians and avoid further military escalation, following recent clashes between government and opposition troops in Waat town.

The appeal came from Nyirol County Commissioner Peter Gatkuoth Koang Dhuor and Jonglei State lawmaker Wany Bum Makhor, who separately warned that the presence of troops inside civilian areas was fueling fear, disrupting daily life and putting already vulnerable communities at risk.

In a letter dated Dec. 26, Koang ordered the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and allied troops to immediately move out of residential areas in Nyirol County and establish military positions away from homes, schools, markets and health facilities.

He said the directive was aimed at protecting civilians and preserving peace and stability in Lou Nuer territory.

“You are strongly advised to separate your forces from civilian populations and to establish your military positions and barracks outside residential areas,” the letter said.

Koang instructed SSPDF forces and their allies to relocate outside communities or move to Yuai in neighbouring Uror County or to Ayod County by January 2026, warning that continued deployment among civilians had undermined trust and threatened peace. Failure to comply, he said, would be treated as a hostile act.

Separately, Wany Bum Makhor, a member of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly representing Uror County, issued a public peace appeal following what he described as recent military skirmishes in Waat between SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces.

Makhor said the fighting, which ended with the SSPDF’s tactical withdrawal and left SPLA-IO forces in control of Waat, was deeply concerning and ran counter to the cessation of hostilities and permanent ceasefire under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

He praised SSPDF commanders for exercising restraint after their withdrawal, saying it helped spare civilians in Lou Nuer areas from further violence, including possible aerial attacks.

Makhor urged SPLA-IO forces not to extend military operations towards Yuai and Pading, warning that both towns are civilian population centres and that any escalation would lead to civilian deaths, displacement and destruction of livelihoods.

“Any escalation toward these towns will not bring peace, security or military victory. It will only deepen the suffering of innocent civilians,” he said.

He described Lou Nuer as a fragile, landlocked region with limited access to water and basic services, noting that humanitarian organisations provide most healthcare, education, water and food assistance.

Fighting in populated areas, he warned, could force aid agencies to withdraw, leaving civilians — especially women, children, the elderly and the sick — in life-threatening conditions.

“This appeal is not political. It is humanitarian and moral,” Makhor said, calling on all armed actors to choose restraint over retaliation and dialogue over violence.

South Sudan has struggled to fully implement security arrangements under the peace deal, with repeated clashes between rival forces in parts of Jonglei state raising fears of renewed instability.