Jonglei State tensions and a viral ultimatum letter
A Nuer spiritual leader in Ayod County, Jonglei State, has not declared war on the government, officials say, even as violence continues between government forces and fighters aligned with the opposition SPLM-IO in parts of the state (Radio Tamazuj).
For several days, a letter shared widely on social media and attributed to Prophet Makuach Tut claimed to give county authorities and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces a 46-hour ultimatum to leave Ayod County or face attack in support of the SPLM-IO (Radio Tamazuj).
Fighting in northern Jonglei and shifting control claims
The disputed letter circulated as tensions rose in northern Jonglei, where fighting between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO was reported. The SPLA-IO was said to have captured Yuai and Waat towns, amid reports that both sides were mobilising for further combat (Radio Tamazuj).
County Commissioner James Chuol Jiek said Ayod County was calm and that the SSPDF was in control of the area, except for Wau Payam. He also referred to online video showing SPLA-IO fighters in Wau and a military tank (Radio Tamazuj).
Ayod County commissioner rejects authorship of the letter
Chuol told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that Prophet Makuach did not write the letter. He said the spiritual leader remained committed to peaceful coexistence under a peace agreement with the state government, reached after Makuach’s foiled march toward Malakal last year (Radio Tamazuj).
“I spoke to Makuach Tut on the phone from his Keer Payam. He reiterated his commitment to peaceful coexistence and distanced himself from the SPLM-IO,” Chuol said (Radio Tamazuj).
White Army position, services agenda and an arrest claim
Chuol said Makuach assured him that the Gawaar Nuer White Army in Ayod would not join the ongoing fighting. He added that local priorities were services and flood mitigation, a recurring concern for communities along the Sobat basin (Radio Tamazuj).
The commissioner, who is a member of the ruling SPLM Party, alleged the letter’s author was a man identified as Yien Matiek and said he had been arrested. The report did not provide further detail on the case beyond Chuol’s account (Radio Tamazuj).
Wau Payam, troop redeployment and the tank in the video
Chuol said the situation in Wau Payam changed after fighting in Uror County, prompting a retreat order toward Ayod town to consolidate forces. He insisted there was no fighting in Wau after the pullback, describing the tank left behind as damaged (Radio Tamazuj).
In such contexts, officials often stress operational decisions as stabilisation measures. In Jonglei’s fragmented battlespace, these explanations can shape perceptions of who holds ground, especially when social media footage circulates without verifiable timelines (Radio Tamazuj).
Governor Riek Gai Kok links spiritual leaders to government peace stance
Speaking to residents in Panyagoor town, Twic East County, Jonglei State Governor Riek Gai Kok, also the SPLM chairperson in the state, said spiritual leaders Dak Kueth and Makuach Tut supported the government (Radio Tamazuj).
“Makuach is also with the government and refused to go against peace,” Gai said, while describing Dak Kueth as having left the SPLA-IO and moved to Duk Padiet. The remarks were presented as reassurance to communities amid uncertainty (Radio Tamazuj).
Spokesperson says Makuach made a ritual vow to peace
Simon Dak, identified as Makuach Tut’s cousin and spokesperson, told Radio Tamazuj from Ayod that the spiritual leader had not mobilised youth to fight the government. He framed Makuach’s position in religious terms tied to obligation and restraint (Radio Tamazuj).
“Makuach made it clear that he recently performed a ritual committing to peace with the government,” Dak said. He added that those fighting alongside the SPLA-IO against the government were “not his responsibility” (Radio Tamazuj).
Communication style and dispute over the social media letter
Dak said Makuach was unhappy about the claims that he authored the letter. He argued that the spiritual leader typically communicates verbally when making declarations, an assertion meant to undercut the authenticity of a written ultimatum spreading online (Radio Tamazuj).
The episode underscores how quickly information moves in conflict settings. When messages appear under influential names, local administrators and community figures often respond publicly to contain escalation and maintain the credibility of peace arrangements (Radio Tamazuj).
Civil society questions access and calls for dialogue
Ter Manyang Gatwech, a Juba-based civil society activist monitoring Jonglei developments, welcomed dialogue but questioned the reported engagement’s sincerity. He said he had received information that Makuach planned to go to Paguong, described as an SPLA-IO headquarters in Ayod County (Radio Tamazuj).
“Makuach Tut is not accessible, and no one knows his next move after Paguong,” Gatwech said. He added, “It is not too late to engage him in dialogue,” while warning that either Makuach might not reveal plans or authorities might be misinforming the public (Radio Tamazuj).
Past Malakal episode and the October 2025 dialogue track
The report recalls that in October 2025, Makuach Tut called off a planned military campaign to attack Malakal and accepted dialogue with the state government. That decision was presented as a turning point toward de-escalation (Radio Tamazuj).
It also said that the previous month Makuach, described as commanding White Army fighters in Ayod, mobilised forces and threatened to attack Malakal to pressure the national government over the detention in Juba of First Vice President Riek Machar and other SPLA-IO figures since March 2025 (Radio Tamazuj).
What the Ayod dispute reveals about trust and stability
Taken together, official denials, a spokesperson’s religious framing, and civil society doubts point to a fragile information environment. In Jonglei, where local authority, armed actors and spiritual influence intersect, managing rumours can be as important as managing troop movements (Radio Tamazuj).
For residents, the immediate test is whether calm holds in Ayod County and whether dialogue remains the dominant channel. The competing accounts around Prophet Makuach show how peace narratives are defended, questioned, and renegotiated in real time (Radio Tamazuj).