Jonglei State clashes reshape a key corridor
JUBA — South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), said on Friday that it captured Pajut after intense clashes with government forces in Jonglei State.
The reported takeover, if confirmed, would mark a notable shift along the main road to Bor, a corridor that has long carried both civilian traffic and military movements in a region often described as volatile.
Why Pajut matters on the road to Bor
Pajut is the administrative capital of Pajut Payam in Duk County. The town lies about 170 kilometres north of Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, on a route linking Bor to areas including Greater Akobo in northeastern Jonglei.
In its statement released the same day, the SPLA-IO framed Pajut as a strategic node on that corridor, suggesting the location has been central to recent deployments and engagements in the area.
SPLA-IO statement details timeline and battlefield claims
According to the SPLA-IO statement, fighting began at about 6:00 AM local time. The group said its forces engaged what it described as advancing government troops deployed from the national capital, Juba, and other states.
“This morning at about 0600, the SPLA-IO forces attacked the advancing SPLM-IG joint operation forces that were brought from Juba and other states,” the statement said, using its terminology for government-aligned forces.
The statement, signed by SPLA-IO spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel, said government forces had been stationed in Pajut while awaiting reinforcements before their positions were overrun. “The joint SPLM-IG forces were stationed in Pajut awaiting reinforcements,” it said.
Casualties, seized weapons, and verification gaps
The SPLA-IO described Pajut as the government’s biggest base in Jonglei State and said the battle caused significant losses in personnel and materiel. It also claimed its forces captured three tanks, a 12.7-mm heavy machine gun, and a multi-barrel rocket launcher.
The group further alleged that a major general, described as a commanding officer within the government’s joint forces, was killed alongside other senior officers. These claims could not be independently verified from the information available.
The SSPDF spokesman, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to the report. The absence of an official response leaves key operational details contested.
Narus siege claim and accusations about civilian areas
In a separate development, the SPLA-IO said its forces had “sieged Narus town” after two days of fighting with what it called SPLM-IG forces. The group did not provide casualty figures for this incident in the statement cited.
The SPLA-IO accused government soldiers of taking cover in residential areas during the fighting, alleging civilians were placed at risk. It also said it had called for government troops to surrender.
Bor residents report fear as wounded soldiers arrive
Multiple local sources in Gadiang, near Bor, told Sudans Post that wounded government soldiers arrived from the north after the clashes, triggering renewed anxiety among residents already worried about the conflict’s proximity.
“We saw wounded soldiers arriving from the northern road early in the morning,” one resident said on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, adding that “people became afraid again.”
The same source said displacement had already been underway in recent weeks, and that the arrival of wounded soldiers prompted additional families to move, as fears grew that frontlines could edge closer to Bor.
Competing narratives over troop build-up north of Pajut
The SPLA-IO said the clashes followed a build-up of SSPDF troops north of Pajut. It alleged the government was preparing a campaign to retake areas held by the opposition in the Greater Lou Nuer areas and in Ayod County.
With verification limited and official comment not immediately available in the account cited, the latest events illustrate how quickly local military developments can influence civilian movement and perceptions of security across Jonglei State.