NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - South Sudan's army has declared a significant military operation against opposition forces following recent territorial losses, raising concerns over the safety of civilians. In a statement on Sunday, army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang announced that Operation Enduring Peace would begin and instructed civilians to evacuate three counties in Jonglei state immediately. He also directed aid organizations to vacate within 48 hours.
Koang stated that the operation aims to reclaim towns taken by opposition forces and to "reestablish law and order." This announcement came shortly after a senior army commander was recorded encouraging troops to kill civilians and destroy property during the Jonglei offensive, prompting condemnation from the United Nations and other bodies. Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group remarked, "It is now indisputable: South Sudan has returned to war," emphasizing the unfortunate trajectory of a country that continues to weaken and impoverish.
Recent developments highlight the government's battlefield losses, particularly in December 2022 when a coalition of opposition forces captured several government outposts in central Jonglei, which is predominantly home to the Nuer ethnic group and an area of opposition stronghold. The forces include those loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar and members of the ethnic Nuer militia known as the White Army. Despite Machar being made one of the five vice presidents under a 2018 peace treaty, violence has surged again in the past year, marked by sporadic fighting.
Since his suspension last year after an attack on a military garrison in Nasir, Machar faces treason and other charges, which many, including his allies and international observers, argue are politically motivated. He remains under house arrest while his case slowly progresses in the capital, Juba. The resurgence of violence has been characterized by forces loyal to Machar declaring the 2018 peace agreement null and escalating their actions against government troops, leading to increased reliance on aerial bombardments to quell the uprising.
On January 16, 2023, opposition forces took control of the government outpost at Pajut, threatening to advance toward Juba. In response, the government has been mobilizing additional troops nearby, with thousands of Ugandan soldiers providing support to protect the capital. Army chief Paul Nang has issued a one-week ultimatum to his troops to "crush the rebellion" in Jonglei.
A particularly alarming moment occurred when a senior military commander was filmed instructing his forces to kill civilians and destroy property. Gen. Johnson Olony urged his troops in Duk County to not spare anyone or anything during the operations, a statement that has raised serious concerns about potential atrocities. Civic leader Edmund Yakani expressed shock and concern, stating that Olony's words indicated government troops were being encouraged to commit serious human rights violations.
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has also voiced "grave alarm" at the situation, which significantly raises the risk of mass violence against civilians. Olony's rhetoric has been labeled by Machar's political group as indicative of "genocidal intent." Government spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny characterized Olony's comments as "uncalled for" and described them as a "slip of the tongue," while also admitting that they do not reflect official policy.
Olony, who leads a militia known as the Agwelek from the Shilluk tribe, has been deployed in Nuer communities, a move that could escalate tensions given the historical rivalries. His presence in Jonglei has been criticized as incendiary, potentially benefiting the opposition in their mobilization efforts against the government.
