South Sudan government calls on opposition forces to cease hostilities

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - South Sudan’s information minister on Tuesday urged the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) to immediately cease hostilities and strictly adhere to a 2018 peace agreement.

Any action that undermines the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) poses a serious threat to peace and jeopardizes the country’s transitional process, Ateny Wek Ateny told a news conference in the capital, Juba.

He said continued violence undermines peace efforts and national stability, and reiterated the government’s commitment to the “faithful implementation” of R-ARCSS as the “cornerstone” of sustainable peace, security and stability.

"The ongoing security operation in northern Jonglei State is a lawful and necessary measure aimed at halting the advance of rebel forces, restoring public order, and safeguarding civilians. The operation is not directed against innocent civilians, but rather against armed elements threatening peace and stability," he added.

Ateny stressed that it is the mandate of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), as the national army, to protect territorial integrity and safeguard the lives and property of civilians.

"The government assures all residents of Akobo, Nyirol, and Uror counties who fled to United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) sites for safety that conditions are secure, and they are encouraged to avoid being caught in crossfire," he added.

Ateny said the government “fully guarantees” the safety and protection of civilians and wants to assure its UN partners, particularly UNMISS, of full cooperation in carrying out peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in conflict-affected areas of Jonglei State.

"The Government of the Republic of South Sudan remains firmly committed to peace, dialogue, and the protection of all citizens. It urges all parties to exercise restraint, act responsibly, and prioritize national unity and stability in the supreme interest of the people of South Sudan," he concluded.

Earlier, UNMISS expressed grave concern over reports that a senior military leader had urged troops to carry out indiscriminate violence against civilians, with more than 180,000 people reportedly fleeing their homes.

"Inflammatory rhetoric calling for violence against civilians, including the most vulnerable, is utterly abhorrent and must stop now," said Graham Maitland, the UNMISS officer in charge, in a statement on Sunday.

Ateny dismissed the statement attributed to Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo, saying they do not reflect the government’s official position and “should be treated as such.”

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, gained independence in July 2011 but descended into civil war in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed then-Vice President Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup.

Despite the 2018 peace agreement and the formation of a transitional unity government, clashes and political tensions have persisted.

Fighting between the SSPDF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), led by Oyet Nathaniel, deputy chair of the SPLM-IO, has intensified since December in northern Jonglei.

Tensions escalated in early 2025, exposing deep divisions within the transitional government formed under the 2018 peace deal. Clashes were first reported in January in Western Equatoria State before spreading north.

First Vice President Riek Machar has been under house arrest since March 2025 and is facing trial.