{"id":5444,"date":"2026-01-27T20:26:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T20:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jubaglobal.com\/?p=5444"},"modified":"2026-05-10T00:30:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T22:30:08","slug":"south-sudan-military-orders-mass-evacuation-from-opposition-held-jonglei-counties-ahead-of-imminent-offensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/south-sudan-military-orders-mass-evacuation-from-opposition-held-jonglei-counties-ahead-of-imminent-offensive\/","title":{"rendered":"South Sudan Military Orders Mass Evacuation from Opposition-Held Jonglei Counties Ahead of Imminent Offensive"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\nBy: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com January 27, 2026 In a dramatic escalation of South Sudan\u2019s fragile post-civil war tensions, the South Sudan P<\/span>
\nSouth, Sudan, Military, Orders, Mass<\/span>
\nSouth Sudan Military Orders Mass Evacuation from Opposition-Held Jonglei Counties Ahead of Imminent Offensive.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com<\/strong>
January 27, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

In a dramatic escalation of South Sudan\u2019s fragile post-civil war tensions, the South Sudan People\u2019s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have issued a sweeping 48-hour evacuation order for all civilians, humanitarian workers, and United Nations personnel from three opposition-controlled counties in Jonglei State. The directive, announced on January 25\u201326, 2026, signals preparations for a major military operation code-named \u201cOperation Enduring Peace\u201d<\/strong> against forces loyal to the Sudan People\u2019s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).<\/p>\n

The order targets Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties<\/strong>\u2014predominantly Lou Nuer areas in northern Jonglei\u2014where the SSPDF stated civilians must \u201cimmediately evacuate for safety to government-controlled areas as soon as possible.\u201d All personnel from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)<\/strong> and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were given 48 hours<\/strong> to leave the affected counties. The SSPDF warned that armed civilians near opposition positions would be considered \u201clegitimate military targets\u201d and urged surrender of weapons.<\/p>\n

This unprecedented directive follows weeks of intensified clashes in Jonglei, one of South Sudan\u2019s most volatile regions, bordering Ethiopia. The UNMISS and humanitarian partners report that more than 180,000 people<\/strong> have already been displaced by fighting since late December 2025, with figures potentially climbing toward 200,000 or more as the crisis deepens. UN officials have described the violence as the most severe since the 2013\u20132018 civil war.<\/p>\n

Background: Renewed Fighting in Jonglei<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jonglei has long been a flashpoint in South Sudan\u2019s complex ethnic and political conflicts. The current surge pits government forces (SSPDF, loyal to President Salva Kiir) against SPLA-IO fighters aligned with detained First Vice President Riek Machar<\/strong>. Key developments include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • SPLA-IO forces captured Pajut<\/strong> town earlier in January 2026 after heavy fighting, threatening the state capital Bor<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  • Last week, the opposition called for a march on the national capital Juba<\/strong>, marking a significant escalation.<\/li>\n
  • Reports of indiscriminate airstrikes, including barrel bombs, have forced civilians to flee into swamps and remote areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The evacuation order follows inflammatory statements from senior military figures, including a call by a commander to \u201cspare no one\u201d\u2014including children, elderly, and civilians\u2014during operations. UNMISS condemned such rhetoric as \u201cutterly abhorrent\u201d and warned that hate speech risks drawing ethnic communities into widespread violence.<\/p>\n

    Humanitarian and UN Response<\/strong><\/p>\n

    UNMISS confirmed that peacekeepers in Akobo<\/strong> remain in place under their mandate to protect civilians and de-escalate tensions, though the status of personnel in Nyirol and Uror remains unclear. Humanitarian groups, including M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF), have begun relocating staff from high-risk areas following the order.<\/p>\n

    UN officials and aid agencies have raised grave concerns:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Forced evacuations in active conflict zones often expose civilians to greater danger, especially with limited infrastructure and safe routes to government areas.<\/li>\n
    • Aid delivery is already severely restricted; the evacuation will further shrink humanitarian space in remote communities facing acute food insecurity and lack of medical access.<\/li>\n
    • The UN estimates 180,000+ displaced<\/strong> in Jonglei alone, with many women, children, and elderly among the most vulnerable. Additional displacement into neighboring states (e.g., Lakes State) has been reported.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Civil society leaders, including activist Peter Ajak<\/strong>, warn that removing humanitarian presence removes a key deterrent to abuses and could enable ethnic-targeted violence.<\/p>\n

      Political and Regional Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n

      The SSPDF frames the order as a precautionary measure to protect civilians ahead of operations to counter the SPLA-IO offensive. Critics, including the opposition, view it as preparation for indiscriminate attacks and a violation of humanitarian principles.<\/p>\n

      South Sudan remains deeply fragile despite the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. The 2013\u20132018 civil war killed nearly 400,000 and displaced millions. Ongoing ethnic tensions, delayed elections, and economic collapse continue to fuel instability.<\/p>\n

      Analysts warn that a full-scale offensive in Jonglei could:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Spread toward Bor and risk drawing in ethnic militias (e.g., White Army mobilization reported).<\/li>\n
      • Undermine the transitional government and derail peace prospects.<\/li>\n
      • Trigger a major humanitarian catastrophe in an already aid-dependent nation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        As the 48-hour deadline approaches, international pressure is mounting on South Sudan\u2019s leaders to halt escalation and prioritize civilian protection. UNMISS and global partners have urged de-escalation and unhindered aid access.<\/p>\n

        With Jonglei\u2019s population already suffering immense harm, the coming days will test whether South Sudan\u2019s fragile peace can survive this latest crisis\u2014or whether the country is sliding back toward widespread conflict.<\/p>\n

        Juba Global News Network provides comprehensive coverage of South Sudan and regional security. This article is compiled from statements by SSPDF, UNMISS, OCHA, Reuters, Anadolu Agency, Radio Tamazuj, BBC, and other sources as of January 27, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com January 27, 2026 In a dramatic escalation of South Sudan\u2019s fragile post-civil war tensions, the South Sudan P<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[786,830,643,1,780],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-africa","category-breaking-news","category-more-articles","category-news","category-southsudan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5444"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22617,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5444\/revisions\/22617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directtopic.com\/jubaglobal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}