More than 60,000 people have fled their homes in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, driven by fears of potential attacks and renewed fighting between SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces, government officials said.
The exodus follows a military advance by the SPLA-IO, which recently captured the towns of Yuai and Waat in the Greater Lou Nuer areas within Jonglei State from SSPDF troops following fighting.
Statements attributed to SPLA-IO forces in Akobo, Uror, and Nyirol counties declaring an intent to march on the capital, Juba, have heightened civilian anxiety other parts of Jonglei, triggering memories of a similar 2013 offensive.
That year, SPLA-IO and allied militia overran Bor and other areas while advancing toward Juba, resulting in widespread violence against civilians.
On Monday, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak, held an emergency meeting with the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Anita Kiki, to assess the crisis unfolding in Jonglei and neighboring Unity State.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Minister Akol said the displacement is largely driven by fear, fueled by what he described as incitement and misinformation on social media.
“The meeting centered on the number of people who have already moved. More than 60,000 people have reportedly been displaced, although these figures are still being verified,” he said.
Many families have sought refuge within Jonglei, especially in Duk County, while others have crossed the Nile River from Bor to Mingkaman in Lakes State. Akol warned such movements pose severe humanitarian challenges, straining resources in host areas.
“Such movement worries us as humanitarians, and we must sit down and plan,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to coordinate with aid partners to provide food, shelter, and protection.
UN Coordinator Anita Kiki stressed the critical need for joint planning but cautioned that the humanitarian response is hamstrung by severe funding shortages, forcing aid groups to prioritize limited resources carefully.
In an attempt to calm the population in Bor, Jonglei State Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok toured public sites in Bor over two days, reassuring residents of their safety.
He emphasized that recent clashes in Yuai and Waat towns were between military forces, not communal groups, and that the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) had been deployed to contain the situation.
“I urge residents to remain calm and trust that the security forces are protecting them,” Kok said.
The new displacement adds to South Sudan’s profound humanitarian crisis, where millions face hunger, annual flooding, and economic collapse.