AU urges de-escalation as fighting displaces over 180,000 in South Sudan’s Jonglei state

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission called for immediate de-escalation and strict adherence to South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement, as renewed fighting in Jonglei State displaced more than 180,000 people and raised fears of further civilian harm.

In a statement, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said he was deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in parts of the country, particularly Jonglei, where escalating violence and inflammatory rhetoric have put civilians—including women and children—at heightened risk.

South Sudanese authorities estimate the number of displaced in Jonglei at more than 180,000, the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said last week.

“The Chairperson is gravely alarmed by reports of inflammatory rhetoric and actions that risk inciting further violence and placing civilian populations, including women and children, at heightened risk,” the statement said.

Youssouf warned that such actions run counter to the letter and spirit of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and strongly condemned any calls for, or acts of, violence against civilians.

De-escalate tensions

He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions immediately, and comply fully with the permanent ceasefire and power-sharing arrangements under the agreement.

“The protection of civilians remains a fundamental responsibility of all parties,” the statement said, adding that the AU would continue working with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations, and international partners to support peace and national reconciliation in South Sudan.

The appeal followed an announcement by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) ordering civilians, humanitarian organizations, and United Nations personnel to evacuate opposition-controlled areas of Jonglei ahead of a major military operation.

“All NGOs and UNMISS personnel operating and working in Nyirol, Uror and Akobo counties are given 48 hours to leave,” SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said in a video statement on Sunday, describing the planned offensive as “Operation Enduring Peace” against forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO).

Concern across borders

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed concern over the evacuation order and reports that a senior military leader had urged troops to attack civilians. UNMISS said fighting linked to tensions between the main parties to the 2018 peace deal had displaced more than 180,000 people in Jonglei.

“Inflammatory rhetoric calling for violence against civilians, including the most vulnerable, is utterly abhorrent and must stop now,” said Graham Maitland, the UNMISS officer in charge.

South Sudan’s Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny rejected allegations that the government was targeting civilians, saying the security operation in northern Jonglei was “lawful and necessary” to halt the advance of rebel forces, restore public order, and safeguard lives and property.

“The country is not at war,” Ateny told reporters in Juba. “We are only stopping the advancement of opposition forces.”

Multi-year conflict

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been plagued by conflict since civil war erupted in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed then-Vice President Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup. Although peace deals were signed in 2018 and 2022, instability has persisted.

Fighting has intensified since late December in Jonglei, with clashes between government forces and SPLA-IO elements loyal to Machar, who has been under house arrest since March 2025 and faces charges including treason and crimes against humanity. Tensions within the transitional unity government have deepened, with clashes also reported earlier this year in other parts of the country.

Humanitarian groups have warned that access restrictions and insecurity are hampering aid delivery. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said supply disruptions in Jonglei had led to “catastrophic” shortages, while the UN humanitarian agency OCHA last week confirmed displacement figures exceeding 180,000.

The African Union said it would remain actively engaged to support dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the crisis, urging South Sudanese leaders to place the interests of the population above all other considerations as the country navigates its fragile transition.