In a statement issued on December 29, 2025, SPLA-IO spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said SSPDF forces had “peacefully withdrawn” from their base in Pathai payam, Uror County, during the afternoon hours. He said SPLA-IO forces subsequently took control of the area and allowed the withdrawing SSPDF soldiers safe passage.
“Today in the afternoon hours, the SSPDF forces peacefully withdrew from their base of Pathai in Uror County,” Lam said. “The SPLA-IO forces, in return, gave them a safe passage to their homes or wherever they feel safe and comfortable.”
According to the statement, the SPLA-IO leadership welcomed what it described as a peaceful gesture by the withdrawing troops and called on other SSPDF soldiers to lay down their arms or pull back from contested areas to prevent further bloodshed. Lam accused authorities in Juba of benefiting from continued violence and urged restraint among government forces.
The SPLA-IO spokesperson also reported a separate incident earlier on the same day in Riang payam, Uror County. He alleged that Hon. Bol Makuei, the former SPLM-IG county commissioner of neighbouring Nyirol County, led what he described as “anti-peace elements” of the SSPDF in an attack on an SPLA-IO base.
Lam said the attack was repulsed by SPLA-IO forces, resulting in “multiple casualties” among the attackers, though he did not provide specific figures. He added that SPLA-IO forces under Sector Three successfully restored calm in the area and protected civilians.
“The SPLA-IO command hereby congratulates the forces of Sector Three (3) for defending the civilians and making sure that calm is restored in areas under their control,” the statement read.
The claim of the Pathai base capture follows a similar announcement made by the SPLA-IO on December 24, when it said its forces had overrun an SSPDF military base in Waat town, Nyirol County. At the time, Lam said the dawn attack was carried out at around 5:30 a.m. by Division 8 forces operating under Sector Three. He claimed at least 18 SSPDF soldiers were killed, with an unspecified number wounded, while the SPLA-IO lost one fighter and had 13 others injured.
Meanwhile, the SSPDF has accused the SPLA-IO of provoking instability in the region. The Pathai claim comes a day after reports that SSPDF airstrikes killed at least nine civilians, including women and children, in an SPLA-IO-controlled area of Lankien, Nyirol County, on Monday morning.
The renewed fighting prompted the SPLM-IO to issue precautionary warnings to civilians and humanitarian organisations operating in northern Jonglei State. In a statement, SPLM-IO spokesperson Pal Mai Deng urged civilians living near SSPDF barracks or within artillery firing ranges to evacuate where possible, or remain indoors during shelling to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Clashes between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO have raised fresh concerns about civilian safety and the fragile security situation in Jonglei State, as calls grow for de-escalation and protection of non-combatants.
