A prominent Nuer spiritual leader based in Ayod County, Jonglei State, has not declared war on the government despite ongoing violence involving government forces and fighters aligned with the opposition SPLM-IO in parts of the state, government officials said.
For several days, a letter circulating widely on social media and allegedly attributed to the spiritual leader, Prophet Makuach Tut, claimed to give county authorities and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) a 46-hour ultimatum to vacate Ayod County or face attack in support of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army–In Opposition (SPLM-IO).
This comes amid rising tensions in Jonglei, following clashes between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO in northern Jonglei State, where the SPLA-IO captured the towns of Yuai and Waat amid reports of both sides mobilizing for further fighting.
Ayod County Commissioner James Chuol Jiek told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the letter was not written by Makuach and said the spiritual leader remained committed to peaceful coexistence under a peace agreement reached with the state government after his foiled march toward Malakal, the Upper Nile state capital, last year.
“I spoke to Makuach Tut on the phone from his Keer Payam. He reiterated his commitment to peaceful coexistence and distanced himself from the SPLM-IO,” Chuol said.
“Makuach assured me that the Gawaar Nuer White Army in Ayod will not take part in the ongoing fighting. What the people of Gawaar want are services and mitigation of floods,” he added.
Chuol, who is a memer of the ruling SPLM Party, said the alleged author of the letter was a man identified as Yien Matiek, who he said has been arrested.
The commissioner said Ayod County was calm and that the SSPDF was in control of the area, except for Wau Payam.
“A video has been circulating online showing SPLA-IO fighters in control of Wau and a military tank,” Chuol said. “What happened was that following fighting in Uror County, we ordered our forces to retreat to Ayod town to concentrate our power there. There was no fighting in Wau Payam after our forces retreated, and the tank left behind was a damaged one.”
Addressing residents on Wednesday in Panyagoor town, Twic East County, Jonglei State Governor Riek Gai Kok, who is also the SPLM chairperson in the state, said Nuer spiritual leaders Dak Kueth and Makuach Tut supported the government.
“Don’t you know the spiritual leader Dak Kueth? Dak Kueth ran away from the SPLA-IO and is now with us in Duk Padiet,” Gai said. “Makuach is also with the government and refused to go against peace.”
Meanwhile, Simon Dak, a cousin of Makuach Tut and his spokesperson, told Radio Tamazuj from Ayod that the spiritual leader had not mobilized any youth to fight the government.
“I was with Makuach Tut and we discussed the ongoing war in Jonglei State,” Dak said. “Makuach made it clear that he recently performed a ritual committing to peace with the government. He cannot break the solemn vow made to his shrine, and whoever fights alongside the SPLA-IO against the government is not his responsibility.”
Dak said Makuach was unhappy about claims that he wrote the letter, adding that the spiritual leader communicates verbally when making declarations.
Ter Manyang Gatwech, a Juba-based civil society activist who closely monitors developments in Jonglei State, welcomed dialogue with Makuach Tut but questioned the sincerity of the reported engagement with local authorities.
“Three days ago, I received information that Makuach Tut was planning to go to Paguong, the SPLA-IO headquarters in Ayod County, where he would slaughter cows to perform rituals in support of the SPLA-IO,” Gatwech said. “Makuach Tut is not accessible, and no one knows his next move after Paguong.”
“It is not too late to engage him in dialogue,” he added. “However, Makuach may not be revealing his real plans, or local authorities may be providing misinformation about him.”
In October 2025, Makuach Tut called off a planned military campaign to attack Malakal and accepted dialogue with the state government.
The previous month, Makuach, who commands White Army fighters in Ayod County, had mobilized forces and threatened to attack Malakal to pressure the national government to release First Vice President Riek Machar and other SPLA-IO figures detained in Juba since March 2025.