Tensions that gripped Jonglei State’s Uror County following clashes involving elements of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) have been resolved in a two-day dialogue that concluded Wednesday, with Maj. Gen. Michael Wal Nyak, a SSPDF commander believed to have been instrumental in the incident ordered to vacate the county.
On Sunday morning, Uror, one of the state’s nine counties that has remained largely peaceful amidst the ongoing political and security tensions in parts of the country, saw a brief armed confrontation between rival military factions. The fighting was immediately halted with no fatalities reported.
“Gen. Michael Wal Nyak, the SSPDF officer responsible for the raid, has been removed from Waat to Juba. His SPLA-IO counterpart will have measures taken against him by his bosses as well,” Uror County Commissioner James Gatkhor Gatluak told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday. “Other resolutions include free movement of people and supplies to all territories, an appeal for humanitarian intervention, and that all aid agencies be allowed to return and operate in Motot.”
The commissioner said they are hopeful that fighting will not resume because those involved share common ancestry and they had agreed to peacefully co-exist.
A community chief, Monytwel Lam, praised the commissioner for sanctioning the dialogue that saw them resolve the tension.
“In the meeting, we identified the root causes of the problem and came up with resolutions that will prevent these forces from attacking themselves,” he said. “Those on either side are sons of Chiengdak (Uror), so there is no need for fighting. The good news is that the injured officer has been taken to Yuai and is recovering well.”
The two-day dialogue was an initiative of the county authorities, and it brought together chiefs, youth leaders, and military commanders.
Meanwhile, Kuch Isaiah, the secretary-general of the Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), said the swift resolution of the Uror unrest was commendable.
“No one wants aerial bombardment and fighting to escalate to other parts of the state,” he said. “We are moved by the initiative of the commissioner and appeal that he continues to keep the county peaceful.”
The activist said Sunday’s fighting resulted in displacement and appealed for resettlement and provision of essentials to the displaced people.