Warnings of conflict spillover in South Sudan as RSF commander falls ill in jail

JUBA – Civil society organizations in South Sudan have expressed deep concern over the potential spillover effects of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. This comes after a South Sudanese mercenary commander, Major General Jibril Tap Gatjiek, fall ill in jail in Unity State.

The prominent civil society groups warned of increased cross-border movements of armed groups and the recruitment of South Sudanese fighters.

These concerns come as reports emerged of Sudanese combatants crossing the border into South Sudan, particularly in the northern South Sudan areas such as the oil-rich Unity State, which borders both West and South Kordofan states.

Multiple investigations including one by Sudans Post in May have confirmed the allegations of South Sudanese mercenaries fighting alongside the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Gen. Gatjiek’s detention by the main armed opposition South Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar and his subsequent illness in jail further highlights the interconnectedness of the two countries’ security situations.

In an email to Sudans Post following a report ran on Gatjiek’s illness by Sudans Post today, civil society leader, and Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, highlighted the potential risks.

“The deadly armed violence has a direct negative impact on South Sudan in all aspects of life. Now evidently, it is clearly coming out that some RSF military leaders are taking advantage of the space in South Sudan to continue fuel armed violence. The proof is the RSF leader under the detention of the SPLA-IO in Unity state, which is published in media,” he said.

Yakani who has urged the leaders in South Sudan early this year to find economic solutions further emphasized and highlighted that economic pressures are driving South Sudanese youth to join armed groups  such as the RSF in Sudan.

“The spread of armed violence through the use of cash for human resources mobilization by the Sudanese conflicting parties has attracted a sizeable number of South Sudan men to join the forces of the conflicting parties in South Sudan,” Yakani said.

“This is coupled by worsening economic situation in South Sudan that pushes young men to seeking for cash by taking role in fighting for one of the conflicting parties in Sudan,” he added.

For his part, civil other prominent civil society leader Ter Manyang Gatwech who is also the Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), echoed these concerns, stressing the need to strengthen border security.

“Our borders are open and are a national security threat to us all. There is a need for South Sudan to strengthen its borders not to allow foreign fighters to be near our border,” he said.

“This is a national security threat to everybody in the country, especially those staying in the borders,” the activist added.