Nagero images ignite social media outrage
Social media widely circulated grisly images of five young men, aged 17 to 22, reportedly shot by government forces in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State. Posts accused soldiers of killing unarmed civilians.
The claims quickly sparked outrage across South Sudanese timelines, with activists demanding swift accountability from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces.
SSPDF rebuts accusations of civilian deaths
Speaking to reporters in Juba on Wednesday, SSPDF spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang firmly rejected the allegations, insisting no civilians were targeted.
“Our troops were ambushed by SPLM-IO elements dressed in civilian clothes,” he said, adding that seven attackers were “neutralised” during the firefight near Nyabwanji and Maringi.
Blurry lines between fighter and civilian
Koang argued that the dead men displayed military formations, carried weapons and fought “professionally”, therefore could not be misidentified civilians.
He stressed that in Nagero many SPLM-IO fighters operate without uniforms, blurring the visual line between combatant and civilian.
Conflicting photographs and promised proof
Viral photos of bodies lying in tall grass fuelled public scepticism. Activists cite the images as proof of excess force.
The army says it holds its own photographs of felled trees and roadside blockades allegedly set by rebels, promising to release them to journalists.
Western Equatoria peace under stress
Nagero has witnessed intermittent clashes between government and opposition forces since the 2018 peace deal. Allegations of civilian harm recur, often meeting categorical denials.
Rights observers urge independent verification mechanisms to reinforce trust in the still-fragile ceasefire.