By Matik Kueth
Civil society organizations across South Sudan are raising the alarm over what they describe as an escalating crisis that threatens to drag the nation back into widespread violence.
In a joint statement on Monday, networks from all ten states, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), and the Ruweng Administrative Area said a virtual meeting on January 21, 2026, revealed “deepening insecurity and mounting humanitarian catastrophe.”
The groups highlighted intensified clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, and Equatoria.
According to them, the fighting has fueled forced recruitment of civilians, destroyed homes and livelihoods, and displaced roughly 1.05 million people in just one month, creating panic, uncertainty, and widespread suffering.
Beyond military conflict, communal violence is surging in Lakes, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and other states.
The networks specifically pointed to tensions over the presence of Ambororo nomads, warning that host communities increasingly view them as a security threat.
Describing the situation as “urgent and perilous,” they called on President Salva Kiir and the Presidency to immediately halt hostilities and release the suspended First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar.
They warned that failure to act could open the door to mass atrocities, particularly in Jonglei and the Greater Upper Nile region.
The groups also condemned inflammatory rhetoric from political and military leaders, stressing that it risks inciting ethnic violence and large-scale civilian casualties.
They further urged communities to reject divisive narratives and called on the Ministry of Peace Building and state authorities to tackle inter-communal conflicts, age-set violence, and pastoral tensions without delay.
While acknowledging the efforts of humanitarian organizations assisting displaced populations, the networks appealed for urgent, scaled-up support, emphasizing that aid must keep pace with rapidly growing humanitarian needs.