Jonglei State Fighting Rekindles Pajut Town Dispute
Rival narratives are shaping the latest developments in Pajut Town, a strategic location in Duk County, Jonglei State. County authorities and the opposition SPLA-IO offered sharply different accounts of Monday’s events, including whether fighting occurred and which side currently holds the town.
Duk County Commissioner Reports Local Youth Casualties
John Chatim Ruei, the commissioner of Duk County, said renewed fighting broke out on Monday over control of Pajut. Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, John Chatim Ruei reported 48 local youth killed and 34 injured during hours of clashes, with treatment organized for the wounded (Radio Tamazuj).
John Chatim Ruei said 14 injured people were transferred to the county headquarters for care, while others with what he described as minor injuries remained in Pajut. He framed the mobilization as a community response after local residents assessed the situation on the ground.
Claims of Retaking Pajut and Allegations of Looting
John Chatim Ruei said the town was back under local control by Monday afternoon. He argued that local youth acted after concluding that SPLA-IO and associated White Army fighters were not confronting government forces but were instead targeting civilians, citing alleged looting in Pajut as evidence (Radio Tamazuj).
In his account, violence around Pajut took on an ethnic dimension, with civilians and property affected. John Chatim Ruei said the local youth “chased away the rebels,” while also stating he could not confirm casualties on the opposition side because, he said, they were not counted.
SPLA-IO Denies Losing Pajut Town Control
Lt. Col. Khor Nyang Mabor, a SPLA-IO spokesperson in Jonglei State, rejected the commissioner’s narrative. Lt. Col. Khor Nyang Mabor said SPLA-IO forces and commanders remained in control of Pajut and insisted there had been no fighting there (Radio Tamazuj).
Lt. Col. Khor Nyang Mabor added that SPLA-IO had not yet decided whether to move “back or forward,” a remark that underlined uncertainty about next steps while maintaining the group’s position that control of the town has not changed.
Pajut Town Strategic Weight and Displacement Pressure
The disagreement comes after Pajut, described as strategic in Duk County and previously hosting one of the largest bases for the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, reportedly fell to SPLA-IO last week. According to the same account, the shift displaced more than 30,000 residents, intensifying local pressure (Radio Tamazuj).
With competing statements now circulating, the situation in Pajut remains difficult to assess from a distance. What is clear from both sides’ messaging is that Pajut’s status carries operational and humanitarian significance for Jonglei State’s already strained communities.