Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), has alleged that forces loyal to Vice President for Infrastructure Taban Deng Gai are mobilizing toward its positions in Unity State, raising fears of renewed conflict in the country’s oil-rich northern state.
Pal Mai Deng, the SPLM-IO’s head of the National Committee for Information and the group’s spokesman, said on Thursday that government troops aligned with Taban were moving toward SPLA-IO-held areas with the intention to launch attacks. He did not specify which areas the alleged forces were targeting.
“A large number of troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and under the command of Vice President Taban Deng Gai are on their way to Unity State to wage war against SPLA-IO forces,” Pal said.
Taban, a former SPLM-IO official who defected to the government in 2016, is currently traveling to Unity State via the Juba–Bahr el Ghazal highway and made a stop in Wunrok, Warrap State, according to officials familiar with the matter. The government has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Unity State, which is predominantly inhabited by Nuer ethnic communities and comprises seven counties, has long been a stronghold of the SPLA-IO.
The opposition maintains active bases in Rubkona, Mayendit, Leer, and Panyijiar counties. Its Division 4A headquarters is located in Tong, a village west of Bentiu, and is commanded by General John Turk Khor.
Tensions have escalated sharply since February, when the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) attempted to launch a civilian disarmament campaign in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
That operation triggered a backlash from the White Army—a Nuer ethnic militia that was allied with the SPLA-IO during the 2013–2018 civil war—resulting in the death of an SSPDF brigade commander.
Following that incident, the government detained SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar and several senior figures. In response, top officials including the group’s deputy chairman, now acting on Machar’s behalf, and spokesman Pal Mai Deng fled Juba amid fears of further reprisals.
Last month, the government categorized Nuer-majority areas into “friendly” and “hostile” zones, with Rubkona County—home to key SPLA-IO positions—labeled as “hostile,” further inflaming tensions in Unity State.
Pal warned that any offensive action would be met with resistance.
“We are not for war, but we will defend ourselves if attacked,” he said. “This is not about tribes—it is about defending our dignity as South Sudanese committed to a better future.”
There was no immediate comment from the SSPDF or the office of Vice President Taban Deng.
The accusations come as regional and international actors, including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the United States, continue to call on South Sudan’s leaders to de-escalate tensions and recommit to the implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
