By Matik Kueth
The Naath Academics Foundation (NAF) has condemned the Ugandan People Defense Forces’ (UPDF) continual aerial bombardment of Nuer counties in Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Unity States.
The group issued a press statement on Thursday, expressing concerns about the ongoing bombing of Nuer counties, including Fangak, Mayom, and many others in different states.
Prof. Julia Aker Duany, NAF’s Deputy Chairperson, noted that such actions should not be utilized to destroy an entire community.
“It is a tragedy to see that at this juncture, a lot of our people, especially in rural areas, are being bombarded, and the number of children and women who are suffering is outrageous,” Prof. Duany stated.
Duany urged armed youth from various states in South Sudan, including the white army, Agwelek, Abushok, Gelweng, and the arrow boys, to lay down their weapons so that peace may reign in the country, stressing that only peace can develop a nation.
She appealed to President Kiir to take the lead in establishing long-term peace and stability in the country.
“So, for us as Nuer Academics, we want to call all on our youth and particularly the youth who are carrying guns, the white army, the arrow boys, the Gelweng, the Agwelek, Abushok. We want all of them; they are all our kids. They should put down their arms and come to their senses that armed conflict doesn’t build a nation. It is peace and unity that build a nation. We love to see that things go back to normal and urge our president to take the lead in advancing peace all across South Sudan,” she said.
Deng Gach Pal, NAF’s Press Secretary, lamented that no government should label people based on their ethnicity as ‘hostile or friendly’.
“We unequivocally condemn the Nasir Incident, including both the White Army’s attack on an SSPDF garrison and the retaliatory aerial bombardments by Ugandan gunships in Nasir, Ulang, Longechuk, Akobo, and Fangak counties. However, such violent events must not be used to stigmatize entire communities. No government official should classify a people by ethnicity or political geography as ‘hostile.’ This narrative is a dangerous precursor to mass atrocities,” Dr. Pal stated.
He called on IGAD, African Union, United Nations, and TROIKA to swiftly de-escalate ongoing political tensions in South Sudan to avoid massive destruction.
“We urge IGAD, the African Union, the United Nations, and TROIKA to move swiftly in monitoring and responding to early signs of conflict escalating into potential genocide. Prevention, not post-conflict resolution, must be a priority,” he stressed.
The group also blasted Dr. Elia Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, for his reckless ethnic profiling of Nuer counties as ‘friendly and unfriendly’ at a press conference in Juba last month in April 2026.
“We, the undersigned Nuer academics under the Naath Academics Foundation (NAP), express our grave concern and strong condemnation of the recent divisive remarks made on behalf of the HLSC by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs on 26th April 2025. By publicly categorizing the sixteen Nuer-majority counties as either “friendly” or “hostile,” it stated.
According to NAF, such language is more than inflammatory; it stirs up haunting parallels to ethnic labelling that preceded the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, when Tutsis were labelled ‘cockroaches’ on Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), a language used to dehumanize and incite mass slaughter.
It further appealed to the R-TGoNU to enact and enforce laws criminalizing hate speech, ethnic incitement, and profiling in accordance with South Sudan’s Constitution and international human rights norms, reaffirming the Nuer community’s commitment to peace as well as the other 63 tribes in South Sudan.