JUBA – Fresh fighting has erupted in Morobo County of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State between forces of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).
According to SPLA-IO spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the clash broke out around 8:30 a.m. on Monday when government troops allegedly launched an attack on an SPLA-IO base belonging to Brigade 4, Division 2B.
“Fighting erupted early this morning when the SSPDF launched an attack against our base in Morobo County,” Col. Gabriel said.
He claimed that SPLA-IO forces successfully repelled the assault, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers. “Our forces successfully repulsed the attackers, leaving 15 enemy bodies on the ground. We also captured three PKMs, one RPG, and 15 AK-47 rifles in good condition. Several of their wounded soldiers were left behind as they fled in disarray,” he stated.
Col. Gabriel further linked the renewed fighting to what he described as the “illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated” trial of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven other senior SPLM/A-IO officials currently underway in Juba.
A week ago, SPLA-IO reported that at least 12 SSPDF soldiers were killed in a separate confrontation in Yondu, another area within Morobo County. These incidents reflect ongoing tensions and recurring clashes between government forces and opposition troops in the region.
The SSPDF spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, has yet to issue a statement regarding the latest fighting. The absence of an official response from government forces has contributed to heightened uncertainty and fears of further escalation in Morobo County.
The current tensions come amid the controversial trial of Dr. Machar and his allies, who were suspended in March and charged with crimes against humanity—an escalation that has intensified political divisions within the ruling SPLM party. The trial entered its second day of hearings today, drawing widespread attention from national and international observers.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has been plagued by cycles of armed conflict. The country endured a brutal civil war between 2013 and 2018, which claimed an estimated 400,000 lives and displaced millions of people.
Despite peace agreements and ongoing negotiations, sporadic clashes between government and opposition forces continue to threaten stability in multiple locations across the country.
