SPLM-IO official alleges aid blockade by government forces in Uror, Akobo

JUBA — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) has accused government forces in Juba of blocking humanitarian assistance to opposition-held areas in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, alleging that restrictions on aid access are worsening civilian suffering.

In a statement obtained by Sudans Post, Pal Mai Deng, the SPLM-IO Spokesperson and Chairperson of the National Committee for Information and Communication, claimed that civilians in Pathai Payam of Uror County were attacked the previous night and that wounded victims were transported to a hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Lankien.

“In Pathai Payam of Uror County, civilians were bombed with chemicals last night, and several of them were wounded,” the statement read. “The wounded were taken to MSF hospital in Lankien in the morning today [Wednesday].”

Attempts by Sudans Post to reach MSF for comments were not immediately successful. In late December 2025, the SPLM-IO’s military wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), claimed it had captured Pathai payam, where a military barracks is housed, an action believed to have prompted the alleged reaction from the SSPDF.

The statement, dated Wednesday, January 14, 2026, further alleged that international medical responders have been prevented from accessing Greater Lou areas, including Akobo, which are under SPLM-IO control.

Mai, a former Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, cited “unverified reports within the humanitarian community” claiming that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has not been permitted by authorities to operate in the area to treat wounded civilians and combatants or to evacuate critically injured patients to facilities with advanced care.

“ICRC, which provides better medical services for the war wounded, is not allowed by the regime to come down to Greater Lou (Akobo), where SPLM/A-IO is in charge, to provide medical treatment for wounded civilians,” the statement said.

The SPLM-IO official accused the government of imposing a humanitarian blockade on opposition-held territories, calling the alleged restrictions a violation of international humanitarian law and the UN Charter.

“In violation of Humanitarian law, Human Rights law and the UN charter, the regime has imposed on Greater Lou (Akobo) and other SPLM/A-IO controlled areas a humanitarian access blockade, denying humanitarian assistance to the needy and most vulnerable,” Pal Mai Deng said.

He further claimed that the denial of aid is being used as a weapon against communities in the affected areas. “The regime is killing one category of the community in question with bombs and bullets and another with famine, starvation and other induced hardships,” the statement added.

The SPLM-IO called on the United Nations, humanitarian organizations and the international community to resist any restrictions on aid operations.

“We call on the UN, NGOs and the International Community to reject the regime’s restriction of humanitarian assistance and access to the needy,” it said.

There was no immediate response from the South Sudanese government to the allegations. There were no immediate responses from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, as well as from the ICRC.

Humanitarian access has been a recurring point of contention in South Sudan’s conflict, with aid agencies frequently warning that insecurity and administrative restrictions hinder relief operations in hard-to-reach areas.

In early January, the United States suspended foreign assistance in Ayod County of Jonglei State and launched a review of aid to Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, citing “continued abuse and obstruction” by South Sudanese officials that have hindered humanitarian operations.

The decision followed a series of reported clashes between the SPLA-IO and SSPDF in different parts of South Sudan, with Jonglei being the hotspot of intermittent confrontations.

Authorities in Ayod County later apologised to the U.S. Embassy in Juba, claiming interference by an unauthorised police officer with the work of a humanitarian organisation at the Ayod–Uror border on January 2.