In a joint statement obtained by Sudans Post signed by SPLA-IO spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel and NAS Spokesperson Lt. Col. Kenyi Mogga Lomeling, the two opposition groups said the SSPDF launched a “twin-axis assault” on the morning of November 22, 2025.
The government’s intention, the statement claims, was to dislodge the rebel alliance from a strategic position on the outskirts of Torit, the capital of Eastern Equatoria State.
The groups said their fighters “successfully repelled the attack,” describing the confrontation as intense. They claimed at least 30 SSPDF soldiers were killed and 15 injured, with “scores missing in the bushes.”
Sudans Post could not independently verify those figures. The statement also alleged that government forces suffered material losses during the operation.
The opposition alliance acknowledged its own losses, reporting one fighter killed and four others injured. The two movements praised their combatants for what they called “courage and resilience,” adding that the operation demonstrated their “unwavering commitment” to defending their positions.
“The leadership of NAS and SPLM-IO stand united in honouring the fallen and assuring the people of South Sudan that we remain steadfast in our mission to bring peace, security, and justice to our nation,” the statement read. The groups also urged their forces to protect civilians and cautioned young people against joining conflicts they described as “serving the interests of a few.”
The Saturday’s clash comes just days after another joint rebel attack on November 18 targeting the Torit Military Hospital and surrounding areas. According to Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong, the earlier attack killed a police captain who also served as the Deputy Inspector of Police for Torit County.
The SPLA-IO and NAS also issued a separate statement on the November 18 incident, claiming at least 10 SSPDF soldiers were killed, along with one opposition fighter. Those figures, like the latest casualty claims, could not be independently verified.
Eastern Equatoria has experienced a resurgence of clashes between government forces and joint opposition fighters over the past year, despite ongoing political efforts to stabilise the region. The latest statements from both rebel groups suggest that the Torit corridor remains a flashpoint as tensions between the SSPDF and the NAS–SPLA-IO alliance continue.
The Eastern Equatoria State government is yet to respond to the latest attack by the rebel groups, which has sent communities, including those in Magwi County, into panic over the weekend.
