Festive Season Fighting Shocks Jonglei
While Christmas hymns echoed across South Sudan, gunfire again rattled Waat, the headquarters of Nyirol County. Residents described a tense morning as South Sudan People’s Defence Forces exchanged fire with SPLA-IO and White Army fighters, shattering the holiday calm.
Yakani’s Appeal To Field Commanders
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization director Edmund Yakani swiftly released a Christmas message, pleading for an immediate ceasefire. “The military route to political disagreements is painful, disastrous and dangerous,” he said, urging commanders from all camps to silence their guns and protect civilians.
Humanitarian Stakes Amid Dry Season
Yakani cautioned that the dry season traditionally emboldens armed movements, raising fears of wider escalation. With global aid budgets shrinking and thousands of Sudanese refugees already sheltering in Jonglei, any uptick in violence could overwhelm relief agencies and deepen hardship for host communities.
Dialogue Over Arms
The activist insisted that sustainable peace hinges on dialogue, not airstrikes. He asked leaders to recognise that neither civilians nor soldiers benefit from prolonged conflict. By embracing negotiations during this sacred period, he argued, parties can signal a genuine commitment to national healing.