By Jacob Onuha Nelson
A police captain, who also served as Deputy Inspector of Police in Torit County, was killed during a clash between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army–In Opposition (SPLM–IO)
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State (EES), the government alleged that SPLM–IO forces launched an attack at around 5:00 AM, targeting the Torit Military Hospital.
“At the same time, another group of armed SPLM–IO elements advanced from Enyif and opened fire on the official vehicle of the Torit County Commissioner, resulting in the killing of a police captain who was serving as the Deputy Inspector of Police,” the statement read.
The Eastern Equatoria State government further accused SPLM–IO of a recent assault on passengers traveling along the Kapoeta–Napotpot road, where several civilians reportedly lost their lives.
Condemning the latest violence, the state government warned that continued hostilities threaten civilian confidence and undermine the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R–ARCSS).
“The Government of Eastern Equatoria State strongly condemns the coordinated military raids carried out this morning in Torit and other parts of the state, as well as their previous provocations,” the statement declared.
The Governor urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid providing sanctuary to perpetrators of violence.
He emphasized that the SSPDF and other organized forces must take necessary measures to defend communities and safeguard the sovereignty and peace of South Sudan against what he described as “barbaric acts committed by enemies of peace.”
Despite these assurances, SSPDF forces in Torit County continue to face significant challenges, including persistent clashes with armed opposition groups, low levels of civilian trust, logistical and financial constraints, and internal disciplinary issues.
The latest confrontation in Torit County underscores the fragile security environment in Eastern Equatoria State, where communities remain anxious about renewed cycles of violence.
Residents have repeatedly voiced concerns that clashes between the SSPDF and SPLM–IO not only endanger lives but also stall development projects and weaken trust in local governance.
For many citizens, the killing of the police captain; a figure who symbolized law enforcement and community protection has deepened fears that organized forces themselves are overstretched and struggling to maintain discipline.
Many now fear that restoring confidence will require not only military vigilance but also political will to fully implement the peace agreement and address grievances fueling armed opposition.
Efforts to reach the SPLM-IO for comments were not successful.