The head of South Sudan’s armed forces, Gen Paul Nang Majok, has given soldiers a seven-day ultimatum to “crush the rebellion” in the eastern region, posing a threat to the capital, Juba.
This move follows recent attacks and captures of several areas in Jonglei state by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), led by suspended First Vice-President Riek Machar.
The SPLA-IO’s advances have threatened Jonglei’s capital, Bor, just two hours’ drive from Juba, sparking fears of a renewed civil war.
The conflict in South Sudan began in 2013, when President Salva Kiir accused Machar of plotting to overthrow him, and a 2018 peace deal has not been properly implemented, exacerbating ethnic tensions and sporadic violence.
Reinforcements from the South Sudanese army, supported by Ugandan soldiers, have been deployed to Bor, a strategic staging post on the way to the capital.
The UN peacekeeping mission, Unmiss, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging leaders to commit to peaceful dialogue.
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has expressed alarm over the deteriorating situation, citing civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of infrastructure.
