MALAKAL – A Member of Parliament representing Uror County in the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, Wany Bum Makhor, has Monday condemned what he describes as “indiscriminate bombardments” carried out on Monday by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Pieri payam in Uror County of South Sudan’s Jonglei State.
In a statement issued on 10 November 2025, Makhor said the attack came hours after clashes erupted between forces loyal to the detained First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar of the SPLA-IO, and rival forces of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction led by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.
According to him, preliminary information from the area indicated that one person was killed and two others wounded during the morning confrontation, after which Kitgwang forces reportedly withdrew from Pieri, leaving Machar-aligned SPLA-IO forces in control.
Makhor stated that despite the withdrawal, the SSPDF launched afternoon bombardments that struck Pieri town, home to an estimated 18,000 civilians, mostly women, children and the elderly.
“This act of hostility by the SSPDF against the peaceful people of Uror County and the Lou Nuer community at large is unequivocally condemned in the strongest terms possible,” he said.
“At a time when constructive engagement is needed to de-escalate tensions, such actions only worsen an already fragile security environment.”
The legislator also urged the SPLA-IO forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar to pull out of Pieri and reposition themselves in Motot to reduce civilian exposure to conflict.
“I call upon the SPLA-IO forces under Dr. Riek Machar to vacate Pieri and retreat to Motot to prevent further civilian endangerment,” Makhor stated, while also advising the Kitgwang faction to base their forces in Yuai to avoid recurring clashes.
He appealed to both the national and state governments to urgently dispatch a peace and security delegation to Pieri to mediate between the rival groups and stabilize the situation.
“The lives of our people must be placed above all political and military considerations,” he added
The situation in Uror County remains tense as residents express growing concerns over renewed militarization and repeated clashes in the area.
