AU Urges De-escalation as Fighting in South Sudan’s Jonglei Displaces 180,000

Renewed fighting in Jonglei State, South Sudan, has displaced over 180,000 people, raising concerns for civilians, including women and children. The African Union urged all parties to de-escalate tensions and adhere to the 2018 peace agreement, while the SSPDF ordered civilians and aid workers to evacuate opposition-held areas ahead of a military operation. Humanitarian groups report severe shortages and disrupted aid delivery amid ongoing clashes between government forces and opposition SPLM-IO fighters.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission has called for an immediate de-escalation of violence in South Sudan and urged strict adherence to the country’s 2018 peace agreement, as renewed fighting in Jonglei State has displaced over 180,000 people and raised concerns about further civilian harm. In a statement, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Jonglei, where escalating clashes and inflammatory rhetoric have placed civilians—including women and children—at serious risk.
South Sudanese authorities, citing United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA, estimate that more than 180,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei due to recent violence. “The Chairperson is gravely alarmed by reports of inflammatory rhetoric and actions that risk inciting further violence and placing civilian populations, including women and children, at heightened risk,” the AU statement said. Youssouf emphasized that such actions violate both the letter and spirit of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and strongly condemned any calls for or acts of violence against civilians.
He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately de-escalate tensions, and comply fully with the permanent ceasefire and power-sharing arrangements established under the agreement. “The protection of civilians remains a fundamental responsibility of all parties,” the statement said, adding that the AU would continue collaborating with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations, and international partners to support peace and national reconciliation in South Sudan.
The appeal followed an announcement by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), ordering civilians, humanitarian organizations, and United Nations personnel to evacuate opposition-controlled areas of Jonglei ahead of a major military operation. “All NGOs and UNMISS personnel operating and working in Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties are given 48 hours to leave,” SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said in a video statement on Sunday. The operation, dubbed “Operation Enduring Peace,” targets forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed concern over the evacuation order and reports that a senior military leader had encouraged troops to attack civilians. UNMISS noted that fighting linked to tensions between the main parties to the 2018 peace deal had already displaced more than 180,000 people in Jonglei. “Inflammatory rhetoric calling for violence against civilians, including the most vulnerable, is utterly abhorrent and must stop now,” said Graham Maitland, the UNMISS officer in charge.
South Sudan’s Information Minister, Ateny Wek Ateny, rejected allegations that the government was targeting civilians, describing the security operation in northern Jonglei as “lawful and necessary” to halt the advance of rebel forces, restore public order, and safeguard lives and property. “The country is not at war,” Ateny told reporters in Juba. “We are only stopping the advancement of opposition forces.”
Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been plagued by conflict. Civil war erupted in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed then-Vice President Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup. Despite peace agreements signed in 2018 and 2022, instability has persisted, with recent fighting intensifying in Jonglei between government forces and SPLA-IO elements loyal to Machar, who has been under house arrest since March 2025 and faces charges including treason and crimes against humanity. Tensions within the transitional unity government have deepened, with clashes reported earlier this year in other parts of the country.
Humanitarian groups have warned that access restrictions and ongoing insecurity are hampering aid delivery. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported “catastrophic” shortages of medical supplies in Jonglei, while OCHA confirmed that displacement figures have surpassed 180,000. The African Union has reiterated its commitment to supporting dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the crisis, urging South Sudanese leaders to prioritize the interests of the population above all else as the country navigates its fragile transition.