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Jonglei clashes (2025–present)

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Jonglei clashes
Part of the South Sudanese Civil War

Current military situation
Date24 December 2025–present[1]
Location
Jonglei, South Sudan
Result
  • SPLA-IO capture several towns in Jonglei[2]
  • SSPDF launches Operation Enduring Peace to regain lost territory
Belligerents

South Sudan SPLM-IO

  • South Sudan SPLA-IO Kit-Gwang
  • South Sudan SSOA defectors
Nuer White Army

South Sudan

Commanders and leaders
South Sudan Riek Machar (arrested)
South Sudan Nathaniel Oyet[3]
South Sudan Simon Gatwech Dual
Ter Chuol Gatkuoth		 South Sudan Salva Kiir
Santino Deng Wol
General John Uliny
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
>46 >70[4]
40+ civilian deaths, 230,000 people displaced[2][5]

Beginning in December 2025, and intensifying in 2026, clashes began between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) within Jonglei State, South Sudan. The SPLM-IO launched an offensive in late December to capture several government strongholds within the majority Nuer Jonglei State in response to the continued imprisonment and treason trial of their leader Riek Machar after the 2025 Nasir clashes.[6]

The clashes have led to fears that South Sudan would return to their civil war, which ended in 2020 with a power-sharing agreement, although Kiir's government claims that South Sudan would not return to civil conflict.[7] It has also led to fears that the nation would be dragged into the civil war in neighboring Sudan.[8]

Timeline

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Initial offensives and capture of Yuai

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On 23 December, 2025, the SPLA-IO accused South Sudanese forces of launching an attack on their base at Panyim, targeting the SPLA-IO commissioner for Nyirol County Peter Koang. In response, the SPLA-IO launched an attack on Waat, described as an SSPDF stronghold in the Lou Nuer area and the headquarters of Nyirol County, capturing the town and killing several government soldiers and threatening an advance on the strategic town of Yuai.[9] Over the next several days, the SPLA-IO advanced to Pathai, capturing it by 28 December, with Peter Koang stated that fighting would continue until Riek Machar was released and the SSPDF withdrew from Lou Neur areas.[10] The next day, the SSPDF launched an airstrike on SPLA-IO controlled Lankien, killing at least 11 civilians.[11] The SSPDF subsequently announced evacuation order for Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties.[12] By 2 January, SPLA-IO advanced to Yuai, capturing it after a short battle, effectively dissolving SSPDF presence in Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo, beside small pockets in the Pading and Pulturuk areas.[13] During the fighting, a head chief of ethnic peace mission was killed.[14]

On 3 January, 1,000 SSOA soldiers, led by Brigadier General Much Banang, defected to the Jonglei SPLA-IO after the SSOA was reportedly planning to integrate into the SSPDF.[15] On the same day, the SPLA-IO captured an SSPDF base in Wau Payam, Ayod County.[16] On 7 January, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States condemned an order by SPLM-IO commander Major General John Bayak to seize aid vehicles in Jonglei, which the SPLM-IO denied as fake news.[17]

Capture of Pajut and subsequent government counteroffensive

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By the 10th, SSPDF forces began stationing in Pajut for possible offensive.[18]. Despite this troop buildup, 6 days later the SPLA-IO Kit-Gwang faction, which signed a peace agreement with the government in February 2025 announced their capture of Pajut. Kit-Gwang's leader Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual stated that their earlier peace agreement was voided, and claimed that fighting would continue to Juba.[19][20] On 19 January, SPLA-IO forces in Pigi County attacked the SSPDF base at Mat Boma before retreating to Ayok village.[21]

We are tired of the problem of Greater Upper Nile [...] When we arrive there, I don't want you to spare an elderly, or a chicken, a house, nor even a life, so that they don't disturb us every year.

Johnson Olony, 24 January 2026, as translated by Sudans Post[22]

On 19 January after a short offensive, the SSPDF claimed to have recaptured Pajut and killed 46 soldiers, which the SPLA-IO denied.[23] 2 days later, SSPDF forces mass in Baidit, preparing to reinforce Poktap and Ayod.[24] During a speech to his militia at Badait, Gen. John Olony told his troops to "spare no one" and "raze every home,"[25] drawing condemnation and accusations of human rights abuses from international organisations.[26][27] On 25 January, the SSPDF declared a second evacuation order for SPLM-IO controlled counties, alongside officially announcing the beginning Operation Enduring Peace, an offensive to recapture lost territories.[28] The next day, the SSPDF captured the villages of Wek and Tiam, close to Yuai. Opposition forces accused the army of burning homes during their advance.[29] On 30 January, tensions were further inflamed by Gen. John Olony after, on a social media post in Poktop, Olony claimed that violence could be quelled by the creation of an ethnic "Nuer State" separate from South Sudan.[30]

On 3 February, the South Sudanese military claimed that it had recaptured all bases in northern Jonglei previously lost during the SPLM-IO's offensive. The next day, the SPLM-IO's spokesperson Pal Mai Deng confirmed that the opposition had withdrew from Motot, Pajut, Pathai, Pieri and Yuai, but stated that the withdrawal was tactical and accused the government of atrocities against the civilians in the towns.[31][32]

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Eastern Equatoria

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On 2 January, clashes erupted at Nadapal and SPLA-IO claimed to have captured the border town.[33] On 12 January, the SPLM-IO advanced north to begin a siege of the town of Narus.[34]

Unity State

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On 4 January, the SPLA-IO claimed to have captured the SSPDF base at Tor Abieth, Rubkona County after the SSPDF attacked an SPLA-IO base at Kubri-Jamus. The government of Unity State refuted the claim, claiming to have repulsed attacks on Tor Abieth and Dingding, although residents claimed that the SPLA-IO had captured Dingding.[35] On 8 January, the SPLM-IO clashed with armed youth at Rupkong, Leer county, over the appointment of a commander.[36]

Upper Nile State

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On 7 February, opposition forces launched an attack on Baliet before reportedly being repelled.[37]

Humanitarian impact

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As of late January 2026, at least 200 people have been reported dead, including 40 civilians, due to the clashes.[2] Alongside this, over 280,000 people have been displaced, with cholera reportedly spreading in refugee camps in Duk County due to overcrowding.[38] 450,000 children are also at risk of malnutrition due to conflict.[39]

The clashes have led to fears of ethnic violence, especially after inflammatory statements by South Sudanese military officials such as John Ulony,[30] and an intensification of the long-running South Sudanese civil war, which had previously been moderated to small-scale clashes since a peace agreement in 2018. Such intensification, multiple organisations have stated, would consequently worsen the humanitarian issues in South Sudan.[40] These fears have been worsened due to humanitarian organisations being included in the SSPDF's evacuation orders for Jonglei counties, restricting organisations like Doctors Without Borders from accessing the territory.[41]

References

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  1. ^ "'No war' happening in South Sudan, says govt, despite 180,000 displaced". Al Arabiya. 27 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Violent escalation in Jonglei threatens South Sudan's peace agreement". ACLED Data. 28 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Oyet's return to war strategy is not good for the country!". Radio Tamazuj. 6 January 2026.
  4. ^ "70 dead, thousands displaced in Uror fighting – officials". Radio Tamazuj. 7 January 2026.
  5. ^ "South Sudan: Conflict in Jonglei State - Flash Update No. 4 (as of 3 February 2026)". OCHA. 3 February 2026.
  6. ^ "South Sudan launches offensive against opposition forces: What to know". Al Jazeera. 28 January 2026.
  7. ^ "South Sudanese government insists it is not at war despite heavy fighting". Africa News. 27 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Will South Sudan Get Dragged Into Sudan's Civil War?". Foreign Policy. 7 January 2026.
  9. ^ "SPLA-IO announces capture of key SSPDF base in Jonglei". Radio Tamazuj. 24 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Clashes resume between SSPDF, SPLA-IO in Jonglei". Radio Tamazuj. 29 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Lankien airstrikes: Death toll rises to 11, five missing". Radio Tamazuj. 31 December 2025.
  12. ^ https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/sspdf-issues-evacuation-order-as-fighting-intensifies-in-jonglei
  13. ^ "SSPDF garrison falls to SPLA-IO in Uror". Radio Tamazuj. 2 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Head chief killed during recent clashes in Uror County". Radio Tamazuj. 6 January 2026.
  15. ^ "SSOA soldiers defect to SPLA-IO in Jonglei". Radio Tamazuj. 4 January 2026.
  16. ^ https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/spla-io-claims-sspdf-base-capture-after-rubkona-clashes
  17. ^ "SPLM-IO denies order to seize aid vehicles in Jonglei". Radio Tamazuj. 8 January 2026.
  18. ^ "SSPDF forces gather for possible attack on SPLA-IO-held Yuai". Radio Tamazuj. 11 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Gen. Simon Gatwech announces fall of Pajut, Jonglei". Radio Tamazuj. 16 January 2026.
  20. ^ "What to know about South Sudan's major offensive against opposition forces". AP News. 28 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Clashes reported in Jonglei's Pigi County". Radio Tamazuj. 19 January 2026.
  22. ^ "WATCH | "Don't spare an elderly or a chicken" - Olony". Sudans Post. 24 January 2026.
  23. ^ "SPLA-IO deny reports of losing control of Pajut Town". Radio Tamazuj. 20 January 2026.
  24. ^ "SSPDF warns SPLA-IO: Bor will not fall". Radio Tamazuj. 21 January 2026.
  25. ^ "'Spare no one, not even the elderly'". Radio Tamazuj. 24 January 2026.
  26. ^ "Press Release: UNMISS condemns threats of indiscriminate violence against civilians in South Sudan". United Nations Mission in South Sudan. 26 January 2026.
  27. ^ "South Sudan: Government Commander Promotes Attacks on Civilians". Human Rights Watch. 26 January 2026.
  28. ^ "South Sudan must pull back from the brink". The East African. 1 February 2026.
  29. ^ "South Sudan: SSPDF Captures Tiam and Wek Villages in Push Toward Yuai". The Tower Post. 27 January 2026.
  30. ^ a b "SPLM-IO condemns Olony's call for Nuer self-rule as 'inflammatory and divisive'". Sudans Post. 30 January 2026.
  31. ^ "South Sudan army claim victory in Jonglei State". Agence de Presse Africaine. 5 February 2026.
  32. ^ "SSPDF declares 'defeat' of SPLA-IO in northern Jonglei". Radio Tamazuj. 3 February 2026.
  33. ^ "Heavy gunfire hits Nadapal border town; soldiers killed". Radio Tamazuj. 2 January 2026.
  34. ^ "Civilians flee fighting in Narus, Eastern Equatoria". Radio Tamazuj. 16 January 2026.
  35. ^ "SPLA-IO claims SSPDF base capture after Rubkona clashes". Radio Tamazuj. 4 January 2026.
  36. ^ "Clashes at SPLA-IO base in Leer kill 5". Radio Tamazuj. 9 January 2026.
  37. ^ "Clashes erupt in Baliet County as officials report 15 dead". Radio Tamazuj. 8 February 2026.
  38. ^ "Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 3 February 2026.
  39. ^ "Lives of malnourished children at risk with upsurge in violence in South Sudan". UNICEF. 3 February 2026.
  40. ^ "South Sudan: 'All the conditions for a human catastrophe are present'". United Nations. 30 January 2026.
  41. ^ "South Sudan's government blocks humanitarian access in opposition-held areas". Doctors Without Borders. 2 February 2026.
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