Clashes between South Sudan’s SSPDF and SPLA-IO Kill 16, Displace Thousands in Nagero County

Violent clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Nagero County have escalated since Sunday, resulting in at least 16 deaths, including a soldier, and leaving over 79,000 people displaced. Many civilians have fled to nearby forests and bushes to escape the ongoing violence.

The fighting, which has spread to Bazia in Western Bahr El Ghazal State, is showing no signs of subsiding. Henry Bangada Assaya, the commissioner of Nagero County, told Xinhua on Thursday that he had witnessed heavy military equipment heading toward the conflict zone on Wednesday evening. “The fighting was still ongoing even on Wednesday evening,” he said, highlighting the increasing intensity of the conflict.

Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson for the SSPDF, stated that the conflict began when SPLA-IO forces refused to dismantle an illegal checkpoint at Kubri-Boo Bridge. According to Koang, the SSPDF initially believed the standoff was a localized issue, but after the roadblock was removed, SPLA-IO forces launched an attack on the bridge, which was repulsed. However, Koang said that the situation escalated, with the SPLA-IO forces launching further attacks in the area.

On Tuesday evening, SPLA-IO forces crossed into SSPDF-controlled territory, ambushing government troops and killing one soldier while injuring three others. Two additional attacks followed at Kubri-Boo, and a third took place at Zamoi.

In response, Ali Solomon Simon, SPLA-IO sector commander in Nagero, blamed the SSPDF for initiating the violence, alleging that government forces attacked SPLA-IO forces stationed at a cantonment site, where they were awaiting the second phase of unified forces training. “I don’t know why the government brought their forces here to start fighting my forces,” Simon said, expressing disappointment at the breakdown of dialogue.

Simon also questioned why the issue of the roadblock couldn’t be resolved through negotiations, adding, “We should have sat down and discussed it, but now they started a war with my forces.”