Civil Society urges Kiir to halt planned military operation in Akobo

BOR—A coalition of civil society organizations on Saturday called on President Salva Kiir Mayardit to immediately halt a planned military operation in Akobo County of Jonglei State, citing fears of escalating violence and further humanitarian suffering.

This call Follows the directive from SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces, General Paul Nang Majok, to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and all aid agencies to evacuate Akobo County in Jonglei State within 72 hours, as the army prepares for the second phase of operations.

Akobo is widely known as the stronghold for the SPLM/A-IO under the leadership of suspended FVP Dr. Riek Machar Dhur-gon.

Since December, Jonglei has witnessed increased violence pitting government forces against rebel factions.

In a joint statement released on Saturday, the groups urged Kiir’s administration to prioritize dialogue and peaceful solutions over force.

“We are humbly appealing to the President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, to urgently intervene by putting on hold the order issued by the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) yesterday,” read part of the statement extended to Sudans Post.

The coalition of civil society warned that a military offensive could undermine peace efforts and worsen the suffering of civilians.

“This will open a chapter of political dialogue to amicably address the differences between the SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO in accordance with the spirit of R-ARCSS,” it said.

The group believed halting the military operation in Akobo would save lives and allow humanitarian organizations and the UNMISS to continue providing essential assistance to communities in need.

“This would save many lives, avoid fueling suffering of South Sudanese by fellow South Sudanese, and allow humanitarian agencies and UNMISS to continue to provide the much-needed assistance and support to many of our people in need.”

The groups expressed concern about the order, stating that an increase in military operations might put civilians at high risk.

“We are alarmed by these orders as much as the civilians residing in the targeted locations. This is not only because these military hostilities violate the 2018 R-ARCSS, but also because of the fact that violence is never an acceptable undertaking to settle disputes under any circumstances.”

The civil body said the earlier military offensive between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces in northern Jonglei resulted in dire humanitarian consequences, including the displacement of communities and the recruitment of civilians into armed groups.

“The recent hostilities between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO in the northern Jonglei State remind us of horrible consequences resulting from such operations—including trauma, displacement, killing and maiming of civilians—the majority being children, women, and elderly—and mass recruitment of civilians into the armed groups and community polarization along tribal lines.”

The groups called on President Kiir to suspend the order issued by the chief of defense forces and instead promote political dialogue between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition in line with the peace agreement.

“Urgently intervening to put the order on hold will open a chapter of political dialogue to amicably address the differences between the parties,” the statement said.

A joint statement was released by civil society networks representing the ten states and three administrative areas of South Sudan, urging for peaceful resolutions to the current tensions in Jonglei.