South Sudan army takes control of Kaljak after clashes in Unity State – minister

BENTIU — South Sudan army on Tuesday took control of Kaljak Payam headquarters in Rubkona County, Unity State, following clashes that prompted opposition forces to withdraw from the area, according to the state government and opposition sources.

Speaking to Sudans Post today, Unity State Information Minister Nyakenya Johannes Keah Ruai said the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) moved into Kaljak on Tuesday and brought the area under control.

She said an SPLA-IO attempt yesterday to regain control of the area was repulsed by the SSPDF.

“Yesterday there was an incident, but it has been settled. It has been fully settled and the SSPDF has taken control of the area,” Nyakenya told Sudans Post on Thursday morning. “So definitely the security situation is very stable and normalcy has been restored.”

Nyakenya said the state government had not yet received confirmed casualty figures from the clashes, noting that assessments were still ongoing. She added that government forces were holding their positions to prevent further fighting.

“But currently we have not received the number of casualties. But of course, there are a few,” she said. “The SSPDF are definitely remaining in their controlled area because they don’t want any conflict.”

The information minister rejected suggestions that the army was pursuing a wider offensive against opposition positions, saying government troops were acting defensively and only to protect civilians.

“It’s unless they are attacked,” Nyakenya said. “So, then they just want peace and they want the well-being of the community and the citizens and the civilians of Unity State. [The SPLA-IO] are dispersed all over the place.”

Two separate sources from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) confirmed to Sudans Post that their forces had withdrawn from Kaljak south to Pawel Payam following the clashes, describing the move as a tactical withdrawal.

“Our forces withdrew to Pawel after the clashes,” one SPLA-IO source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. A second opposition source separately confirmed the pullback, saying the group was seeking to avoid further escalation.

The fighting followed the SPLA-IO’s brief presence in Tor Abiath on Sunday. Tor Abiath lies along the Rubkona–Unity Oilfield road and is considered strategically important due to its proximity to key supply routes and nearby security installations.

Nyakenya dismissed claims circulating on social media that armed youth were involved in the fighting, describing such reports as misinformation.

“That is not true,” she said. “You know, social media propagandas are so many these days. And misinformation and misinformation is all over the place. So that is not true. It is purely between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO. So, no youth are involved here.”

Addressing residents of Unity State, the information minister urged civilians to remain calm, saying the government remained in control of the security situation.

“I want the people of Unity State to know that their government is ready to protect them,” she said. “They should remain calm because the situation is under the control of the SSPDF who are actually here to protect them and make sure that their well-being is catered for.”

Unity State has experienced repeated bouts of insecurity in recent years, driven by tensions between government and opposition forces, localized violence and armed mobilization.

Rubkona County, which hosts the Bentiu internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, remains particularly sensitive due to its large civilian population and proximity to oil-producing areas as well as its border with neighboring Sudan which is also in a civil war.