By Matik Kueth
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that South Sudan is edging toward collapse, calling for an immediate halt to all military operations as escalating violence fuels mass displacement and deepens an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
The warning follows a major offensive launched by government forces in Jonglei State last week against the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).
Civilians were ordered to flee, while humanitarian agencies were told to pull out of areas of active fighting, moves that have left thousands exposed to hunger, insecurity, and abuse.
In a statement, Guterres said the escalation of violence, particularly in Jonglei, has killed and injured many people, forcing an estimated 180,000 people to flee their homes.
He cautioned that inflammatory rhetoric targeting specific communities and the expansion of military operations risk igniting wider violence, warning that civilians, already among the most vulnerable in the world, are once again trapped between rival forces.
Guterres said the renewed clashes are worsening a severe humanitarian emergency, noting that government figures show nearly 250,000 civilians have been displaced across South Sudan in just the opening weeks of 2026 alone.
He urged all parties to protect civilians, allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and guarantee the security of UN peacekeepers and aid workers.
The UN chief called on both the government and opposition forces to take “immediate and decisive action” to silence the guns and de-escalate tensions through inclusive dialogue.
Reminding the signatories of the 2018 peace agreement of their commitments, Guterres urged President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to pursue a political, not a military, solution and to clear a credible path toward the long-delayed elections.
He welcomed mediation efforts by the African Union and the regional bloc IGAD, stressing that dialogue remains the only viable exit from the crisis.
Fighting between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the SPLA-IO has intensified since December 2025, first erupting in Western Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, and Unity States before spreading north to Jonglei, laying bare deep divisions within the unity government.
Machar, whose SPLM-IO remains part of the transitional administration, is currently facing a treason trial alongside several co-accused, further clouding South Sudan’s already fragile political future.