By Matik Kueth
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), condemned the continual bombardment of civilians in Upper Nile State and called on regional peace guarantors and the international community to intervene to prevent South Sudan from plunging into another conflict.
In a statement extended to King Media on Monday, Pal Mai Deng, Spokesperson for the SPLM-IO and the National Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, underlined the alarming trend of aerial bombardments targeting innocent civilians, including women and children in Nasir and Ulang Counties in Upper Nile State.
“The SPLM-IO strongly condemns the aerial bombardment of innocent civilians (including children and women). We call upon the guarantors of the Agreement including C5, regional bodies namely IGAD, EAC, AU and the international community, Troika, EU, and UN to intervene to prevent a return to violence,” Deng stated, underscoring the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire.
The statement draws attention to the troubling human rights violations, stating that, “Families are being torn apart, homes destroyed, and lives lost.”
Deng appealed to the peace monitors to decisively prevent a return to violence, noting that the international community must engage actively to protect civilians.
“We call upon the guarantors of the Revitalized Agreement to act decisively to prevent a return to violence. The international community must engage actively to protect civilians and uphold the ideals of peace that we have all fought for,” he said.
He urged President Kiir to release the detained SPLM/A-IO officials to de-escalate the ongoing violence.
“To de-escalate the ongoing violence, we urge President Kiir to release all detained SPLM/A-IO members,” he stressed.
The SPLM-IO spokesperson further appealed to the South Sudanese political leaders, military leaders, and social media users to refrain from using hate speech.
However, the SPLM dismissed SPLM-IG’s recent accusation alleging that the “White Army” is an integral and inseparable part of the SPLA-IO.
According to the statement, SPLM-IG has cited escalating military campaigns and the alarming rhetoric employed by SPLM-IG as catalysts for the ongoing violence as said by the minister of information Michael Makuei in a press conference held on March 17, 2025.
“White Army” is an integral and inseparable part of the SPLM/SPLA(IO). These claims are false and unfounded. The “White Army” is not how the Nuer Armed Youth called themselves. They call themselves either Gojam or Nyaborjiok or Militia depending on the area they hailed from. The Nuer armed youth are independent of any political organization,” it stated.
It added, “They are civilians and are armed like some other armed youth from different communities around the country. However, they are unlike Gelweng, Tit-Beny, and Mathiang Anyor, who are armed and commanded by the government. The SPLM/SPLA-IO does not command the Nuer armed youth. Although SPLM/SPLA-IO occasionally engages the Nuer armed youth on matters of peace and stability.”
The SPLM-IO condemned last week’s military confrontations in Upper Nile state, where violence erupted following a failure to adhere to a peace agreement.
“This violence was entirely avoidable,” the SPLM-IO pointed out, “Had the SSPDF complied with our original plans for a unified deployment of forces, we could have prevented the tragic loss of lives, including that of Lt. Gen. David Major Dak.”
It also criticized actions taken by SPLM-IG officials, particularly Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, who accused the SPLA-IO of undermining peace efforts in Nasir.
“Such accusations not only misrepresent the situation but also jeopardize our ongoing de-escalation efforts,” it noted.
The recent incident on March 7, 2025, in Nasir County saw violent confrontations leading to the death of Lt Gen David Majur and two UNMISS crew members, in which the government accused the SPLA-IO of having a hand in the attack, according to government spokesperson Michael Makuei.
Commitment to R-ARCSS
As the situation unfolded, the SPLM-IO reiterated its commitment to peaceful dialogue and the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
“We reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful resolution of the crisis and to uphold the promise of no return to war,” Deng emphasized, calling for solidarity from the international community to ensure stability in South Sudan.
Peace brokers’ efforts
On March 8, the African Union and IGAD urged South Sudan’s leaders to prioritize peace dialogue and the safety of humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in the face of clashes between the SSPDF and local armed groups, specifically the “White Army.”
On the other hand, on March 18, diplomatic missions in South Sudan, including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, urged President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to engage in dialogue in order to restore and maintain peace in the face of escalating tensions and detentions, but nothing has been done as of yet.
This plea for intervention reflects the urgent need for civilian protection in South Sudan’s increasingly volatile landscape, indicating that the road to peace will require collaboration and accountability on all sides as the UPDF and SSPDF continue to bombard Nasir, Ulang, and Longechuk counties, forcing thousands of civilians to flee.