Fighting broke out on Sunday, September 27, when forces from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) attacked a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) barracks.
Local authorities said the assault, which took place around 5:30 a.m., left one government soldier injured and triggered widespread fear among residents. As a result, hundreds of civilians fled into the bush, where they have remained amid rife insecurity in the area.
Officials who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that SSPDF forces repelled the attack and maintained control of the military post.
According to displaced residents, several people sustained injuries while attempting to escape the fighting. Women have reportedly delivered babies in unsafe conditions without professional medical support, while children and the elderly are falling ill due to hunger, harsh weather, and the lack of medicine.
“The entire community has deserted Nagero County and is hiding in the bush. Women are suffering in the rain without food, medicine, or any assistance,” one displaced resident told Sudans Post.
Community leaders are warning that the situation could deteriorate further if urgent help is not provided. They have appealed to the state government, humanitarian organizations, and international partners to intervene quickly to avert a large-scale crisis. “Hunger and disease are setting in. If nothing is done, lives will be lost,” a local leader cautioned.
Thomas Aringa, Deputy Chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Western Equatoria, confirmed the displacement but said authorities have yet to determine the exact number of those affected.
“People are scattered in the bush and cannot be registered now. Once registration begins, we will provide a full report. A committee will be formed with partners and the state government to assess their needs,” Aringa explained.
Civil society activist Edmond Yakani also raised alarm over the crisis, urging both the national and state authorities to prioritize displaced families in Nagero and Kediba counties. He stressed that these communities deserve the same level of emergency assistance provided to flood-affected populations in Pibor.
Efforts to reach Nagero County Commissioner Henry Bangada for comment were unsuccessful. Sources say the commissioner has gone into hiding following recent political upheavals in the state, including the removal of former Governor Alfred Futuyo.
With no immediate end to the clashes in sight, families remain in the bush, braving hunger, disease, and uncertainty. Aid groups warn that unless urgent assistance reaches Nagero, the displacement could escalate into one of Western Equatoria’s most severe humanitarian emergencies in recent years.
