Fighting broke out early Monday between rival factions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, killing one soldier and prompting the suspension of flights to the area, local officials said.
The clashes erupted in the town of Pieri, Uror County, between forces loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar, who leads the main SPLA-IO faction, and those aligned with the breakaway SPLA-IO Kitgwang group led by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, according to local authorities.
Uror County Commissioner James Gatkhor Gatluak told Radio Tamazuj that tensions remained high but efforts were underway to restore calm.
“The fighting started at around 2 a.m. when soldiers from the SPLA-IO under Nathaniel Oyet attacked forces loyal to Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual,” Gatkhor said. “One soldier was killed and two others were wounded on both sides.”
The clash reportedly stemmed from a dispute over the control of a military tank held by the Kitgwang faction.
The county commissioner said an uneasy calm had returned by midday.
“The base of the SPLA-IO-Kitgwang and the tank were captured,” the commissioner said. “We have urged civilians to remain calm, and delegations have been dispatched to mediate between the rival groups. Civilians have not fled, but we will ask them to move if the situation deteriorates.”
Flights to Pieri airstrip were suspended following the clashes to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, local officials said. It was not immediately clear whether humanitarian or commercial flights were affected.
Civil society activist Ter Manyang, executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, condemned the renewed fighting and urged the factions to engage in dialogue.
“I recently returned from abroad, and the image of our country is not good because of these recurring clashes,” he said. “Dialogue is the only way forward.”
There was no immediate comment from the two SPLA-IO factions on the fighting.
The SPLA-IO split in August 2021 when Gen. Gatwech Dual, Machar’s former chief of staff, announced his own faction, accusing Machar of compromising with the government during the implementation of the 2018 peace deal. The rift has since led to sporadic clashes in parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states.