South Sudan’s army has announced a major new military campaign following significant territorial losses in recent weeks, raising fresh concerns about the safety of civilians in already fragile areas of the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said the operation, named Operation Enduring Peace, would begin immediately. He ordered civilians to evacuate three counties in Jonglei state and instructed humanitarian organisations to leave the affected areas within 48 hours.
Koang told The Associated Press on Monday that the offensive aims to recapture towns recently seized by opposition forces and to “reestablish law and order.” He said the military was responding to a deteriorating security situation and recent setbacks on the ground.
The announcement has sparked alarm among international observers and rights groups, coming just a day after a video circulated on social media showing a senior army commander urging troops to kill civilians and destroy property during the Jonglei offensive. The footage drew swift condemnation from the United Nations and other international actors, who warned that such rhetoric could encourage atrocities against noncombatants.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, said he was deeply concerned by the worsening security situation in parts of South Sudan. In a statement, he said he was “gravely alarmed by reports of inflammatory rhetoric and actions” that could incite violence against civilians, calling for restraint and respect for international humanitarian law.
Jonglei state has long been one of South Sudan’s most volatile regions, plagued by intercommunal violence, armed opposition activity and repeated displacement of civilians. Aid groups warn that large scale military operations, combined with evacuation orders, could worsen the humanitarian crisis, disrupt access to food and medical care, and force thousands more people to flee their homes.
As Operation Enduring Peace gets underway, humanitarian agencies and regional bodies are urging all parties to prioritise the protection of civilians and allow safe access for aid, amid fears that the latest escalation could further destabilise the world’s youngest nation.
Leave a comment