Nearly 30,000 civilians have been displaced in Mundri East County, Western Equatoria State, following an attack on a SSPDF base by a combined force of the National Salvation Front (NAS) rebel group and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), local officials said Thursday.
Mundri East County Commissioner John Henry Ngalamu told South Sudanese local broadcaster Radio Tamazuj that clashes began at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday when NAS and SPLA-IO forces attacked a SSPDF base in Kediba Payam.
“The entire population of the Payam has been displaced. Many are without food, medicine, and basic services,” he said, while appealing for urgent humanitarian assistance.
A community member, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said families fled with nothing and are facing severe hardship.
“The elderly and children are suffering. There is no food or medicine, and treating the sick is very difficult,” the resident said.
Thomas Aringa, Deputy Chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Western Equatoria, said families remain scattered, making it difficult to confirm the exact number of displaced persons.
“Food and non-food items are the most urgent needs,” he stated. “We call on the government and humanitarian agencies to respond quickly and work to restore peace.”
Civil society activist Edmond Yakani condemned the fighting and urged both the government and armed groups to resolve political differences through dialogue to prevent further displacement.
The situation in Kediba remains tense as humanitarian agencies assess the scale of the crisis.
NAS, led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo, and SPLA-IO, led by Deputy Chairman Nathaniel Oyet, who fled Juba after Dr. Riek Machar’s and his allies’ arrests in March, formed a military alliance citing the collapse of the 2018 peace agreement and have carried out several attacks on SSPDF positions, especially in Morobo and Yei counties in Central Equatoria State. The SPLA-IO is nominally led by First Vice President Riek Machar, who is part of the national unity government but has been under house arrest in Juba. Acting chairman Oyet Nathaniel now oversees the group’s day-to-day operations. NAS did not sign the 2018 agreement.
