Examinations for about 2,000 pupils in 23 primary schools in Leer County, Unity State, have been postponed until November 9 following fighting between rival factions of the opposition SPLA-IO over leadership, a county education official said on Monday.
Gatjung Gatwang Tap, the education director in Leer County, told Radio Tamazuj that the fighting between factions led by Regina Joseph and Oyet Nathaniel had disrupted third-term examinations in areas under opposition control.
He said about 2,000 pupils, including 700 girls and 1,300 boys, were affected by the postponement.
The affected schools include Bow Primary School, Rupkong Primary School and Adok Primary School, among others.
Gatjung said the county education authorities had decided to postpone examinations for Primary One and Primary Seven pupils until November 9 because of the security situation.
“We have decided to postpone the examinations for Primary One and Primary Seven because of the fighting between the SPLA-IO factions. The examinations have been rescheduled for November 9,” he said.
John Nhial Gatluok, headteacher of Bow Primary School, also confirmed the postponement to Radio Tamazuj, saying the examinations had been moved to next week because of the fighting.
“We have postponed the examinations until next week because of the tensions within the SPLA-IO in Leer County. That is the reason we decided to reschedule them,” he said.
The postponement highlights the impact of internal divisions within the opposition movement on access to education in parts of Unity State.
Leer is Machar’s birthplace and a longstanding political stronghold of the opposition leader.
The fighting stems from a leadership dispute within the SPLA-IO following Riek Machar’s detention in March 2025. The rivalry escalated in August 2026 after Oyet Nathaniel and Regina Joseph Kaba suspended each other, each claiming authority to lead the movement. The dispute has since spread to the military, triggering clashes between rival forces.
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