South Sudan Orders Civilians and UN Staff to Evacuate Parts of Jonglei State as Conflict Escalates

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

South Sudan, 26 January 2026 - South Sudan’s military has ordered all civilians, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) personnel and charity workers to evacuate three counties in Jonglei State, a move that marks a serious escalation of the ongoing conflict in Africa’s youngest nation.

The order applies to Nyirol, Uror and Akobo counties, where some of the fiercest fighting in the country’s long-running conflict has taken place.

The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) said the evacuation must occur within 48 hours ahead of a planned military operation dubbed “Operation Enduring Peace.”

The directive comes amid renewed hostilities between government forces and fighters loyal to the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), a faction long central to South Sudan’s protracted instability.

The UN and other observers describe the current clashes as occurring at a scale not seen since 2017, with both sides vying for control of key territory in Jonglei.

In recent weeks, SPLA-IO forces made significant battlefield gains, including the capture of the strategic town of Pajut, which brought them within striking distance of the state capital, Bor, a development seen as part of a broader offensive.

The conflict has reignited long-simmering tensions from South Sudan’s civil war, a conflict that erupted after independence and drew in rival factions from across the country, costing hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions.

According to UN and humanitarian sources, more than 180,000 people have already been displaced in Jonglei due to the recent surge in violence.

Communities in the affected counties are enduring severe hardship as they flee advancing fronts, with many reportedly seeking refuge in swamps and remote areas to avoid harm.

The evacuation order risks further worsening the humanitarian situation, as aid workers and UN personnel will have to pull back from frontline zones, potentially limiting the delivery of critical assistance to displaced populations, including food, health services and shelter.

Ethiopia Declares End of Marburg Virus Outbreak That Killed Nine

Nyong’o Commends CoG for Strengthening Performance Management Framework

In related warnings, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has publicly condemned threats of indiscriminate violence against civilians and called for immediate cessation of hostilities, urging leaders to recommit to peace agreements and protect vulnerable communities.

The evacuation order and intensifying conflict carry significant political and security implications for South Sudan and the wider East African region.

The country, rich in oil but plagued by political fragmentation, has been under international pressure to implement peace accords signed in 2018 and renewed in later years — accords that have struggled to take firm root.

Escalating violence could undermine ongoing regional efforts to stabilise South Sudan, including diplomatic mediation by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and peace interventions by neighbouring states. It may also deepen strain on humanitarian operations throughout the region.

South Sudan’s order for civilians, UN peacekeepers and aid workers to leave parts of Jonglei State signals an alarming escalation in conflict between government forces and opposition fighters.

As fighting displaces tens of thousands and risks cutting off humanitarian access, the move highlights how fragile peace in the country remains, and underscores the urgent need for renewed political dialogue and protection for civilians caught between warring factions.