By Alan Clement
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities after reports of escalating clashes between SSPDF and SPLA‑IO in Jonglei State.
Last week clashes were reported between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).
UNMISS cautioned that continued confrontations risk destabilizing the wider region, urging both parties to respect peace agreements and prioritize civilian protection amid mounting tensions.
In a statement issued on December 31, UNMISS said the confrontations have already resulted in civilian casualties and displacement, urging all armed actors to restore calm and recommit to dialogue as the country enters the new year.
“These escalations must stop,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, Officer-in-Charge of UNMISS.
“All military actors have a responsibility to protect civilians. As the country enters a new year, it is time to leave conflict behind and recommit to dialogue and compromise.”
Jonglei State is one of South Sudan’s most volatile regions, long affected by insecurity driven by a combination of political rivalry, intercommunal violence, cattle raiding, and disputes over land and local governance.
The state has frequently experienced clashes involving armed youth and organized forces, often with severe consequences for civilians.
The latest tensions come amid ongoing challenges in implementing the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which ended large-scale fighting between the main parties but has not fully prevented localized violence.
Jonglei and neighboring areas in the Greater Upper Nile region have remained flashpoints for periodic clashes despite the peace deal.
UNMISS warned that renewed fighting risks further destabilizing Jonglei, worsening humanitarian conditions, and eroding public confidence in the peace process. Civilians, the mission said, remain particularly vulnerable as violence disrupts access to markets, health services, and humanitarian aid.
The state has repeatedly been cited by humanitarian agencies as a displacement hotspot. Previous cycles of violence have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, often seeking refuge in hard-to-reach areas with limited access to food, clean water, and medical care.
Seasonal flooding, common in Jonglei, further compounds the crisis by cutting off roads and isolating communities.
UNMISS said it is intensifying engagement with national and state authorities, security actors, faith-based and traditional leaders, civil society organizations, youth groups, and community members to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
The mission said such engagement is aimed at reinforcing commitments to peace and addressing local grievances through dialogue.
The UN mission has previously facilitated local peace initiatives in Jonglei, including community-level reconciliation efforts intended to curb intercommunal violence.
However, UN officials have consistently stressed that sustainable peace depends on restraint by armed actors, political commitment to dialogue, and accountability for violations against civilians.
The renewed appeal comes as South Sudan enters a politically sensitive period marked by preparations for national elections and continued security sector challenges.
UNMISS has repeatedly warned that renewed clashes between organized forces could undermine fragile stability and reverse gains made since the signing of the peace agreement.
UNMISS said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and called on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and the preservation of peace in Jonglei and across South Sudan.