Soldiers of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) reportedly launched an attack on the cantonment areas of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Western Equatoria State, sparking renewed fears over the fragile peace agreement.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Major Costa Joseph Aburida, the spokesperson for the SPLA-IO in Western Equatoria, alleged that on August 24, SSPDF forces attacked an SPLA-IO cantonment site in Bari, Mundri East County, and in Kubri Su, which is located approximately 45 km from Yambio Town.
Major Aburida said the attack left one SPLA-IO soldier dead, but that the opposition forces managed to repel the attack and retain full control of the site.
“This is a clear violation of the peace agreement. We are only engaged in defensive operations,” he stated. “We lost one person in the attack, but our cantonment areas remain firmly under our control.”
He further called on the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) and peace guarantors to urgently intervene, warning that the incident threatens the sustainability of the peace process.
The SPLA-IO spokesperson also condemned what he described as the continued detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, the removal of the former governor of Western Equatoria State, Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, and the looting of his properties, saying these acts amount to further violations of the peace accord.
Meanwhile, Mundri West County Commissioner Zelpha Dawa told this publication that she could not independently verify the clashes.
“Yes, there was an issue in the forest, but so far, there are no details. It has not reached the level of displacement or injuries,” she curtly said. “We will provide further information when available.”
Efforts to reach SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
The incident underscores the fragility of South Sudan’s peace process and highlights the urgent need for dialogue and intervention by guarantors and the international community to prevent further escalation in Western Equatoria and beyond.