South Sudan’s military has ordered all civilians, United Nations personnel, and staff from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to evacuate three counties in Jonglei State ahead of a planned operation against opposition forces.
The announcement comes amid clashes that the United Nations says are occurring at a scale not seen since 2017, convulsing South Sudan, Africa’s youngest country, for months.
The fiercest fighting has been concentrated in Jonglei, in the east of the country along the border with Ethiopia. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) is seeking to halt an offensive by fighters loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).
An operation code-named “Operation Enduring Peace” was described as “imminent” by the SSPDF in a statement on Sunday. The military directed all civilians in Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties to evacuate immediately to government–controlled areas for their safety. All UNMISS personnel and NGO staff were also ordered to leave the three counties within 48 hours.
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A UNMISS spokesperson said, “Our peacekeepers in Akobo remain in place, carrying out all efforts under our mandate to help de-escalate tensions and prevent conflict.” She did not specify whether UN staff remained in the other counties.
Last week, SPLA-IO called on its forces to march on South Sudan’s capital, Juba, signalling a major escalation. Earlier this month, SPLA-IO seized Pajut town in northern Jonglei, a move seen as putting the state capital, Bor, at risk.
UNMISS said that 180,000 people in the state had already been displaced by the fighting and urged leaders “to put the interests of their people first by stopping the fighting.”
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirmed it had evacuated key staff from Akobo county “after clear instruction from the relevant authorities, and in response to the deteriorating security situation in the area.”
