Nuer and Dinka leaders in Jonglei warn against ethnic escalation

BOR — Community leaders from South Sudan’s Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups on Thursday urged restraint and calm, warning that escalating fighting in northern Jonglei State must not be allowed to spill into wider communal violence.

The appeal, released in the state capital Bor, comes amid renewed clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), raising fears that the ethnic animosities that fuelled the 2013 and 2016 civil wars could resurface.

Recent armed confrontations have destabilized parts of northern Jonglei, forcing civilians to flee and disrupting humanitarian operations. Residents and civil society groups say markets have temporarily closed, basic goods are in short supply and food prices have risen, hitting women, children and the elderly hardest.

The Bor–Northern Jonglei corridor, a key route for trade and aid, has become increasingly insecure, humanitarian actors say, warning that continued violence could worsen an already fragile situation in a state where thousands remain displaced and dependent on assistance.

In a joint statement, Nuer and Dinka leaders said the current fighting was political and military in nature and should not be exploited to inflame ethnic tensions.

“We categorically reject any form of ethnic mobilization, incitement, or manipulation linked to the ongoing hostilities,” the statement said.

They warned that framing the conflict along ethnic lines risked dragging civilians into violence, fuelling revenge attacks and undermining years of fragile peacebuilding between the two communities.

“Our communities must not be turned into instruments of war,” the statement said.

The leaders cautioned against the involvement of youth, community defence groups or traditional structures in the fighting, and condemned attacks on civilian population centres and infrastructure, including villages, markets, schools, health facilities, water points and places of worship.

They called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and respect international humanitarian and human rights law, urging the protection of civilians from violence, intimidation and forced displacement, and guarantees for the safety of humanitarian workers.

The statement also urged armed actors to allow safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to affected areas, regardless of political or community affiliation, and to ensure freedom of movement for commercial goods, warning that continued restrictions could trigger severe economic hardship.

Addressing community members directly, the leaders appealed for calm and restraint, urging youth leaders, elders, women, religious leaders and civil society actors to reject rumours and hate speech, which they said often fuel violence during periods of insecurity.

Reaffirming their commitment to peace, the leaders called on the warring parties to return to dialogue under the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, which they described as the only viable path to resolving the current impasse.

They pledged to work jointly on peace initiatives, de-escalation efforts and civilian protection at the local level, and acknowledged the role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in preventing violence.

The statement was signed by Malaak Ayuen Mayen, Dinka Bor Paramount Chief; Pater Lam Malual Keay, chief of the Bor IDP camp representing the Nuer community; Bol Deng Bol, chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network; and Bishop Peter Maluk of the Inter-Church Committee.

As fighting persists in parts of northern Jonglei, the leaders warned that failure to de-escalate could undo hard-won peace gains, urging all actors to prioritise dialogue and national unity over violence.