Jonglei State clashes raise regional alarm
South Sudan’s government said Tuesday it is not at war, even as heavy fighting has been reported in recent days against rebel forces. The statement comes as violence intensifies in Jonglei State, north of the capital, Juba.
The United Nations said the clashes are unfolding at a scale not seen since before the 2018 peace agreement. Diplomats and humanitarian actors are closely tracking the situation, given Jonglei’s history as a flashpoint during earlier phases of conflict.
Government frames operation as lawful security measure
Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny described the campaign in northern Jonglei as “a lawful and necessary measure” intended to halt rebel advances, restore public order, and protect civilians. His remarks sought to present the fighting as a contained security operation.
Ateny also appealed for an end to armed confrontations, saying the government calls on the SPLM/A in Opposition to “immediately cease hostilities”. He warned that steps undermining the 2018 agreement threaten peace and the ongoing transitional process.
2018 Revitalized Agreement remains central reference
For many South Sudanese, the current tensions revive memories of the 2013–2018 civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with long-time rival Riek Machar. That conflict ended with the 2018 deal known as R-ARCSS.
The agreement produced a unity government, but the arrangement has faced strains over the past year amid continuing clashes. Machar has been removed from the power-sharing government and is on trial for “crimes against humanity”, according to the same account.
UN warns of escalation and civilian risk
Despite the political turbulence, Ateny said Tuesday that “the peace agreement has not collapsed”. The UN, however, has voiced concern that the fighting could have broader consequences beyond Jonglei’s immediate front lines.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, is worried the clashes could place hundreds of thousands of civilians at risk. The violence has already displaced more than 180,000 people, according to the same report.
Human rights commission sees pattern beyond Jonglei
Barney Afako, a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, said last week that events in Jonglei are “not an isolated security incident”. He described “a dangerous escalation” that is also manifesting in other parts of the country.
The warning underscores fears that localized fighting could widen, complicating the transitional roadmap anchored in the 2018 framework. Observers note that public messaging from authorities and international bodies now matters as much as battlefield developments.
A young state under pressure from recurring insecurity
South Sudan, formed in 2011, remains the world’s youngest country. It has been shaped by repeated conflict and deep socioeconomic pressures, with poverty and corruption frequently cited as underlying challenges in national recovery.
With Jonglei again at the centre of violence, the government’s insistence that the situation does not amount to war contrasts with UN assessments of scale and risk. The coming period will test whether containment efforts can stabilise the security environment.