Strategic Shift in Upper Nile
After three days of intense firefights, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces declared full control of Tonga, headquarters of Panyikang County. The riverine town, contested since 2018, sits astride vital Nile corridors and has repeatedly undermined confidence in the country’s revitalized peace roadmap.
SSPDF Commanders Visit and Assurances
Deputy operations chief Gen. Kong Thou landed by helicopter on Tuesday, touring sandbagged positions and flooded alleyways. He urged displaced families to return unarmed, stressing that weapon collection would follow a phased schedule aligned with the national force-integration plan.
Local Security Commitments
Division Two commander Maj. Gen. Michael Majok applauded Panyikang residents for what he called ‘patience amid turmoil,’ pledging joint patrols with local police to deter revenge attacks. Field commander Maj. Gen. Paromi Angui promised immediate reopening of Nile barges and dirt roads linking El Liri, Malakal, and eventually Juba.
Opposition Counters Official Narrative
SPLA-IO spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel disputed the government narrative, asserting that his Seventh Division ‘repelled a joint SSPDF-Agwelek thrust’ on Saturday, inflicting heavy casualties before a tactical withdrawal. Independent verification remains elusive as phone and river traffic have been intermittent since the shelling.
Peace Deal Implementation Gaps
Both factions remain bound to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement, yet core clauses—force unification, a permanent constitution, and nationwide elections—stall in committees. Analysts warn that military gains in Tonga could translate into bargaining chips rather than lasting stability unless reforms accelerate.
Local Human Cost and Prospects
Community leader Lydia Pangu, speaking by satellite phone from a UN site, voiced cautious optimism: ‘If both sides respect civilians, we can plant before the rains deepen.’ For now, aid agencies prepare emergency rations as the displaced await clear guarantees of safety along the swollen Nile.