South Sudan’s government on Tuesday rejected reports that the country is returning to full-scale war, saying recent violent clashes in northern Jonglei State are part of a defensive operation to halt an opposition advance and protect civilians.
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have deployed troops to northern Jonglei to recapture positions in Uror, Nyirol and surrounding areas. Tensions have risen, with senior military figures warning of further confrontation.
On Sunday, the SSPDF announced a military campaign, “Operation Enduring Peace,” aimed at regaining positions held by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).
On 24 January, UN deputy special representative Anita Kiki Gbeho met South Sudan’s minister of humanitarian affairs to review the crisis. They discussed reports of large-scale civilian displacement and agreed to accelerate aid to the most vulnerable, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said.
At a press conference in Juba, Ateny Wek Ateny, information minister and government spokesperson, said the SSPDF are responding to SPLA-IO threats while upholding the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement.
“We are not at war,” Ateny said. “This is a defensive operation aimed at stopping the advancement of armed elements and protecting civilians.”
He said the SSPDF, as the national army, has a constitutional mandate to defend the country’s territorial integrity and protect civilian lives and property. He accused the SPLA-IO of attempting to advance toward government-held areas, forcing a response in self-defence.
Ateny reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, which international observers say has weakened amid repeated violations and disputes between the parties.
“The peace agreement has not collapsed,” he said. “SPLA-IO is an institution, not a person, and it continues to exist within the framework of the agreement. He called on the SPLA-IO to immediately cease hostilities, warning that continued fighting could undermine the transitional process.
Gen. Olony’s remarks
Ateny rejected recent statements attributed to Gen. Johnson Olony, assistant chief of defence forces for mobilisation and disarmament, describing them as “a slip of the tongue” that do not reflect government policy.
Olony, who also commands the Agwelek militia, made the remarks recently while addressing fighters in Jonglei preparing to confront SPLA-IO forces and the White Army, which recently overran government garrisons in the Lou Nuer area.
“When we arrive there, don’t spare an elderly, don’t spare a chicken, don’t spare a house,” Olony said.
His comments were condemned by the United Nations and human rights bodies, which warned that inflammatory rhetoric and troop mobilisation risk triggering mass atrocities, ethnic violence and further undermining the fragile peace deal.
Civilians in conflict zones
Ateny said residents in Akobo, Nyirol and Uror counties had been warned to avoid frontline areas. He described the alerts as precautionary, not punitive, and assured those who fled to UN protection sites that their safety is guaranteed.
He dismissed media reports of forced recruitment as unfounded. “There is no forced conscription anywhere,” he said, adding that army enlistment is voluntary and publicly announced.
The minister also denied claims that the government had ordered UN or humanitarian agencies to leave Jonglei, pledging continued cooperation with UNMISS and aid organisations.
Ceasefire talks conditional
On the possibility of ceasefire negotiations, Ateny said the government had received no formal request. “As a responsible government, we cannot allow anyone to march toward Juba with guns,” he said.
He rejected UN allegations that government forces targeted civilians, calling the claims “ridiculous” and emphasizing that the SSPDF are drawn from local communities.
Ateny declined to comment on the possible release or continued detention of opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar, saying the matter is before the courts.
There was no immediate response from the SPLA-IO to the government’s statements.