Fresh Clashes Displace Hundreds in Nagero
Gunfire before dawn on 27 September ripped through Nagero County, Western Equatoria. SPLA-IO fighters struck an SSPDF barracks at 5:30 a.m., prompting soldiers and civilians to scatter. Community representatives say entire households fled into dense bush, carrying little more than children and urgent prayers for safety.
By mid-morning, silence replaced the clashes, yet fear kept residents hidden. Witnesses report one government soldier wounded, but the civilian toll remains uncertain. Informal counts suggest several injuries during the chaotic flight, with some victims still unreachable because footpaths are monitored by armed groups.
Women, Children and Elderly Face Severe Hardship
Families now sleep under trees as seasonal rains intensify. Mothers have given birth without skilled attendants; elders struggle to find clean water. ‘Hunger and disease are setting in,’ a local leader warned, describing improvised leaf shelters and children coughing through cold nights.
Local Authorities Detail Immediate Security Picture
Deputy RRC chairperson Thomas Aringa acknowledged the displacement but said registration is impossible while people remain scattered. ‘We must first locate safe sites,’ he told reporters, insisting the SSPDF controls the barracks and surrounding roads. Officials declined to speculate on casualty figures pending verification.
Humanitarian Actors Mobilise but Data Scarce
Humanitarian partners are preparing rapid-response teams, according to aid agency briefings in Juba. Limited access, broken bridges and armed checkpoints, however, hamper deployment. Relief workers caution that delayed assistance could turn a contained displacement into Western Equatoria’s worst emergency since the 2018 Wau Shilluk exodus.
Civic Voices Demand Equitable Emergency Aid
Civil society activist Edmond Yakani urged national and state leaders to match food, health and shelter support offered in flood-hit Pibor. He argued that parity would strengthen fragile trust in the peace process and prevent grievances that armed spoilers might exploit during the harvest season.
Next Steps for Peace and Relief Efforts
Talks between local chiefs and military commanders are planned for the coming week, sources said, with church mediators facilitating. Meanwhile, assessment committees will map displacement sites for targeted aid drops. Observers believe swift coordination could stabilise Nagero before the dry season encourages further armed movements.