Rapid Fall of Bentiu Camp
Government troops in South Sudan seized Bentiu’s vast IDP camp on Sunday evening after a brisk one-hour battle that forced opposition fighters of the SPLA-IO to flee. The incident marks the most dramatic breakdown yet of the fragile 2018 security arrangements (Sudans Post).
Armour and Artillery Precede Night Assault
Security sources said the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces rushed heavy armour, including a main battle tank, to the camp perimeter at 5 p.m. local time, anticipating resistance from the joint police contingent controlled by SPLA-IO officers. Artillery exchanges west of Rubkona set the stage for the assault.
Civilians Caught in Crossfire
Fire opened inside Sector 5 at 7 p.m. Within sixty minutes, government firepower overwhelmed the outnumbered rebels, who fell back to Sector 3 before slipping into the night. No casualties were confirmed, yet nervous families dashed between shelters to escape the crossfire, witnesses told this magazine.
At the height of panic, neighbouring blocks absorbed waves of displaced residents clutching bedding and cooking pots. A mother of three said, “We just ran toward the quieter side.” By 9 p.m. many returned, but the sight of uniformed SSPDF patrols kept tension high.
The UNMISS Transition Tested
Camp management shifted from UNMISS to a government-backed joint force in March 2021, following a nationwide policy to normalise the once celebrated Protection of Civilians sites. Yet Sunday’s clash exposed how easily the joint command can fracture along political lines despite the peace deal’s blueprint.
A Strategic Site and Its Symbolism
The Bentiu facility, three kilometres north of Rubkona and adjacent to the strategic Unity oil road, still houses thousands who fled ethnic violence in 2013. Its transformation from UN haven to contested military prize underscores the unresolved security dilemmas haunting Greater Upper Nile.
Peace Agreement at a Crossroads
Unity State officials insist the takeover will restore law and order. Opposition spokespeople counter that the attack violates cease-fire clauses and erodes trust ahead of national elections. Regional analysts warn that without rapid recommitment to the 2018 framework, localized flare-ups could spill into broader confrontation.
Hopes and Fears Moving Forward
For Bentiu’s civilians, the immediate priority is simple: stability. Until guns fall silent and joint policing regains credibility, families will continue dividing nights between guarded hope and restless alarm, their future tied to decisions forged far beyond the muddy lanes of the camp.