South Sudan government and opposition forces have issued contradictory claims over the control of strategic territories in Jonglei State, as humanitarian organizations warned that nearly 400,000 civilians are at risk due to blocked aid and escalating violence. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Deputy Spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, announced in a Facebook video on Saturday that the national army had recaptured areas previously controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the White Army militia. “The conflict is fundamentally between the government and the SPLA-IO, not civilians,” Olony said, adding that no single community could rule South Sudan on the basis of tribal identity. Humanitarian situation defoliate in South SudanThe humanitarian situation has deteriorated alongside the fighting. Adham Effendi, WFP’s Acting Country Director in South Sudan, warned that 60 percent of Jonglei’s population is projected to experience crisis-level hunger during the upcoming lean season.

Source: Daily News Egypt January 31, 2026 18:53 UTC