Escalating Violence in South Sudan: Nasir County Under Threat

In Nasir County, South Sudan, violence from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces against local youths escalated, displacing thousands and injuring many. Ongoing conflicts reflect the failure to implement the 2018 peace agreement. Local communities demand reforms, while recent airstrikes threaten civilians, raising concerns over potential war crimes and the need for effective protective measures.

In South Sudan’s Nasir County, Upper Nile State, rising violence threatens community safety and stability. Since early 2024, confrontations between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and local armed youth have escalated, particularly following a February 14, 2025, attack on civilians at a market. This renewed fighting has displaced thousands and injured many, including a peacekeeper, complicating an already fragile situation amidst ongoing clashes with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLA/IO).

The violence highlights the urgent need to address past grievances and implement critical security arrangements from South Sudan’s 2018 revitalized peace agreement. Essential reforms include security sector overhaul, disarmament initiatives, and the unification of various armed groups. However, persistent political conflicts and failure to execute the peace agreement have maintained the country’s vulnerability, with uncoordinated military forces exacerbating tensions between government troops and community militias.

Since the previous year, Nasir’s communities have urged the establishment of a unified military force in place of the currently deployed national defense troops, which are alleged to have perpetrated abuses against civilians. Following February 22, authorities sent additional troops and collaborated with ethnic militias outside the formal unification arrangement, prompting local youth to prepare for potential armed confrontation. The SSPDF has denied claims of intending to forcibly disarm these youths, instead attributing unrest to the SPLA/IO’s alleged provocations.

On February 25, the SSPDF called for the dispersal of local youth while simultaneously launching airstrikes against SPLA/IO positions, inadvertently affecting civilian areas. Such actions risk escalating conflict and violate international humanitarian law, which prohibits indiscriminate attacks on non-combatants. The resultant consequences may constitute war crimes, leading to dire implications for the region’s civilians.

For the authorities to rebuild trust and effectively protect citizens, incorporating community input in security strategies is essential, along with eliminating impunity for human rights violations. The international community’s support for accountability measures is also critical in addressing these persistent issues. Without significant intervention, civilians will continue to bear the brunt of this escalating violence.

The situation in Nasir County underscores the urgent need for effective security measures and community involvement in conflict resolution. It reiterates the importance of implementing the 2018 peace agreement to prevent further violence and civilian suffering. The international community must also contribute to accountability and humanitarian efforts to restore peace and stability to the region.

Original Source: www.hrw.org