Violence in Nasir County, South Sudan escalates, displacing thousands due to confrontations between the SSPDF and local youth. The conflict reflects failures in implementing the revitalized peace agreement, raising fears of abuse and instability. The SSPDF’s actions, including airstrikes on civilian areas, prompt urgent calls for reform and international support to protect vulnerable communities.
Recent violence in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, poses a severe threat to local communities and threatens to exacerbate the region’s instability. Political strife between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and local armed youth has escalated since early 2024, culminating in renewed confrontations on February 14, 2025, when an SSPDF attack in a civilian marketplace resulted in numerous injuries and mass displacements.
The ongoing conflict involves the SSPDF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLA/IO). This situation highlights the consequences of neglecting past abuses and failing to implement crucial security measures outlined in the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, which includes necessary security sector reforms and disarmament initiatives. Political disagreements have exacerbated the conflict, leaving the country vulnerable to increased violence between governmental forces and local militias.
Despite calls from Nasir’s communities for a unified military force, the deployment of troops and allied ethnic militias, which have not undergone a formal unification process, continues. Local youth, who are concerned about forced disarmament and potential violence, have taken up arms in defense. In response, the army has denied plans for disarmament, attributing the youth’s mobilization to SPLA/IO propaganda and incitement.
On February 25, the SSPDF initiated airstrikes targeting SPLA/IO positions. Regrettably, these strikes inadvertently impacted civilian locales, raising concerns of potential conflict escalation. International humanitarian law forbids indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets, with such violations potentially amounting to war crimes.
In light of these developments, it is crucial for authorities to enhance the protection of civilians and restore trust within the community. This restoration necessitates incorporating community perspectives in security planning and ending impunity for abuses committed by security forces. The international community is encouraged to bolster accountability efforts. Without decisive measures, the civilian population will continue to suffer the most devastating consequences of this ongoing crisis.
The violence in South Sudan’s Nasir County signifies a growing humanitarian crisis, heightened by political discord and neglect of peace agreements. The SSPDF’s attacks on civilians and the subsequent mobilization of local youth underline the urgent need for effective security reforms and community trust-building measures. The international community’s support for accountability and civilian protection is essential to prevent further escalation.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
