Nyirol commissioner urges displaced residents to return home after Lankien clashes

JUBA – The Commissioner of Nyirol County has called on displaced residents to return to their homes following recent clashes in Lankien Town, saying security conditions are improving and the government is committed to protecting civilians.

In an official statement issued Tuesday, James Bol Makuei, a Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) commissioner, said the county leadership has observed the gradual return of community members who had fled their homes due to fighting between government forces and opposition elements in Lankien, a town in Jonglei State.

“The leadership of Nyirol County has witnessed the gradual return of community members to their homes after they fled Lankien Town due to the recent clashes,” Bol said.

The commissioner urged those who remain displaced to return and resume normal life, assuring residents that authorities are working to stabilise the situation.

“He calls upon all communities who are still displaced to return home and resume their normal lives,” said Bol. “The Government of the Republic of South Sudan is fully committed to providing protection and restoring lasting peace and security in the area.”

Officials emphasised that civilians should not be drawn into political divisions, noting that communities are not affiliated with any political party and should feel safe returning to their homes.

According to the county leadership, the safety and well-being of citizens remain the government’s top priority.

The Office of the Commissioner reiterated its appeal for residents to return with confidence, stating that full security protection is being provided as authorities work to restore stability in Lankien Town.

Nyirol County has been one of the areas periodically affected by insecurity since the outbreak of civil conflict in South Sudan early this year.

Jonglei State has witnessed cycles of fighting involving government and opposition forces, as well as intercommunal violence that has displaced thousands of civilians over the years.

Although national peace agreements have reduced large-scale fighting in many parts of the country, tensions between armed groups have occasionally resurfaced in remote counties such as Nyirol.