Civil Society Coalition Calls for Immediate End to Fighting in Jonglei
By Roselyn Oboy
The National Civil Society Coalition (NCSC) has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) following renewed clashes in Walgak, Akobo County, Jonglei State.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the coalition’s Chairperson, Bol Deng Bol, said the organization had learned “with utter disappointment” of the resumption of fighting in Walgak, warning that the violence threatens civilians and humanitarian operations in the area.
According to the statement, Walgak is currently hosting thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled previous fighting in northern Jonglei. Humanitarian agencies have been providing life-saving assistance, including food, medicine, and shelter, following security assurances from the government.
Although the number of casualties remains unclear, the coalition warned that the renewed violence poses a serious threat to civilian lives, property, and ongoing humanitarian relief efforts across northern and central Jonglei.
The NCSC appealed to both the SSPDF and the SPLA-IO to immediately and unconditionally cease hostilities. It also called on the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) to investigate the latest clashes and establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The coalition further urged the Presidency to urgently convene an inclusive political dialogue involving all parties signatory to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), including the suspended First Vice President.
“The remedy to this conflict lies with the political parties,” the statement said, warning that continued delays in dialogue would prolong the conflict, intensify civilian suffering, and undermine preparations for the country’s elections.
The coalition also cautioned that the ongoing insecurity could disrupt the work of key institutions responsible for the electoral process, including the National Elections Commission (NEC), the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC), the South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics (SSNBS), and the Political Parties Council (PPC).
