{"id":4038,"date":"2026-01-27T14:12:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/home\/south-sudan-army-tells-civilians-to-leave-opposition-areas"},"modified":"2026-01-27T15:22:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T15:22:37","slug":"south-sudan-army-tells-civilians-to-leave-opposition-areas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/policy\/south-sudan-army-tells-civilians-to-leave-opposition-areas","title":{"rendered":"South Sudan Army Tells Civilians to Leave Opposition Areas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. <\/strong> <\/span>South Sudan\u2019s army has announced a 48-hour deadline for civilians and personnel from humanitarian organizations and the United Nations to evacuate areas held by armed opposition forces in Jonglei State, ahead of a large-scale military operation.<\/p>\n

In a recorded statement, army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said that all NGO staff and UN personnel must leave Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties, adding that civilians must immediately move to government-controlled areas \u201cfor their own safety\u201d as the army prepares to launch an operation named \u201cPermanent Peace\u201d against SPLM-IO forces. Koang warned that any armed civilians found near opposition camps or assembly points would be treated as \u201clegitimate military targets,\u201d urging residents to hand over weapons to the army and relocate with their families and livestock to government areas.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed concern over reports that military commanders had encouraged troops to attack civilians in Jonglei State, noting that more than 180,000 people have already been displaced due to renewed fighting between signatories to the 2018 peace agreement.<\/p>\n

Conflict background<\/b><\/p>\n

South Sudan is the world\u2019s youngest country, having seceded from Sudan in 2011 following a referendum. However, it quickly descended into civil war in December 2013 after a dispute between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his then\u2013vice president Riek Machar, whom Kiir accused of attempting a coup.<\/p>\n

Despite peace agreements in 2018 and 2022, the country continues to struggle with political and security instability. In February, the \u201cWhite Army\u201d militia \u2014 composed mainly of Nuer youths loyal to Machar \u2014 seized a town in Upper Nile State, prompting authorities to arrest several generals and ministers linked to the opposition.<\/p>\n

Machar and a number of detained opposition leaders face serious charges, including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, as well as allegations of conspiracy, financing \u201cterrorist\u201d activities, destruction of public and military assets, and incitement to violence in Nasir County.<\/p>\n

According to observers, developments in Jonglei highlight the fragility of South Sudan\u2019s political and security landscape, where ethnic tensions and political rivalries intersect with a worsening humanitarian crisis amid fears that an impending military operation could trigger further displacement and worsen civilian suffering.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Africa<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. South Sudan\u2019s army has announced a 48-hour deadline for civilians and personnel from humanitarian organizations and the United Nations to evacuate areas held by armed opposition forces in Jonglei State, ahead of a large-scale military operation. In a recorded statement, army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said that all NGO staff and UN […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":4036,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-4038","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-policy","8":"tag-africa"},"yoast_head":"\nSouth Sudan Army Tells Civilians to Leave Opposition Areas - Africa Press English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press. 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