Intensified Clashes in Disputed Abyei
Gunfire erupted Monday between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition units assigned to the Unified VIP Protection Force near Abyei town. Both spokespersons confirmed the exchange and promised details once mop-up operations end.
Officials Trade Statements as Firefight Continues
SSPDF spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang described the incident as an “armed confrontation” outside the Abyei Box, while SPLA-IO’s Col. Lam Paul Gabriel noted that shooting persisted at the moment of his briefing.
Violence Spreads to Western Equatoria
On the same day, clashes in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State, displaced hundreds. County executive Bernard Gabriel Amin reported civilians hiding for days without food, water or medical aid as forces maneuvered from separate bases, complicating local mediation.
2018 Peace Deal Under Strain
The renewed skirmishes spotlight the fragility of the 2018 accord that merged rival troops into a national army and created a transitional unity government. Recent house arrest and charging of opposition leader Dr Riek Machar have inflamed mistrust among commanders.
Humanitarian Stakes in the World’s Youngest Nation
South Sudan, independent since 2011 yet scarred by a civil war that killed roughly 400,000 people, now confronts renewed displacement just as communities hoped for stability. Aid workers warn that access to shelter, clinics and clean water remains precarious in Abyei’s flood-prone savannah.
Regional Diplomacy Searches for Openings
Juba officials have signalled willingness to re-engage the peace monitoring bodies, while IGAD partners privately caution against inflammatory media statements. Analysts argue that quick deployment of the remaining unified battalions could de-escalate the standoff and reassure traders along the Sudanese border.