United Nations peacekeepers escorting the humanitarian convoy in South Sudan. |File Photo|.
Thursday, 8 January 2026
Senior military leader of the main South Sudan’s armed opposition group known as Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), Major General John Luk Bayakın, on Friday, 3 January 2026, ordered the humanitarian organisation operating in northern Jonglei State to surrender their vehicles to his fighters following the fall of Yuai military garrison.
Yuai town serves as the headquarters of Uror County of Jonglei State. Northern Jonglei State comprises Uror, Nyirol, and Akoko counties, which belong to the Nuer ethnic group (the second largest in South Sudan).
The capture of Yuai town follows days of fierce fighting between the SPLA-IO and the SSPDF (South Sudan People’s Defence Forces). Yuai was the last stronghold of the SSPDF in the Lou Nuer heartland following the recent loss of nearby Waat.
The SPLA-IO says 9 of its fighters were killed in the battle over the Yuai garrison. Details about the overall number of casualties are yet to be established by both parties to the conflict.
The Embassies of Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States condemned the order, describing it as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian principles and placing assistance workers in harm’s way.
They call for an immediate reversal of this order and the return of any assets seized.
“No party or individual in South Sudan has the right to confiscate assets provided by our governments to assist implementing partners in support of our effort to provide life-saving assistance to South Sudanese in need,” the embassies said in a joint press statement issued on Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
The fighting has displaced thousands of people from their homes to the neighbouring Duk County. The SPLA-IO commanders issued a warning to the civilians living close to the army installations to vacate as they prepare to continue the offensives against the government.
Similar warnings were issued to civilians living on the outskirts of the national capital, Juba, to quickly evacuate the areas near the military barracks.
The SSPDF Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang did not issue an official statement on the escalating security situation in the northern Jonglei State.
