Brussels: The EU and embassies of nine countries have condemned the killing of civilians in South Sudan's Jonglei state, expressing their dismay over what they describe as credible reports of a deliberate massacre of civilians.

According to Anadolu Agency, the joint statement was issued by the EU delegation and the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US. The statement highlights a recent attack in Pankor village, Ayod County, reportedly carried out by forces linked to the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) last Saturday.

The joint statement calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and emphasizes the need for a return to inclusive dialogue, emphasizing that the attack occurs amid a surge in violence across Jonglei State. It also urges the authorities to hold accountable those responsible for the killings and escalating violence, regardless of their rank or political affiliations.

South Sudan, which became the world's youngest nation upon its independence in July 2011, descended into civil war in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed then-Vice President Riek Machar, accusing him of orchestrating a coup. Despite a peace agreement reached in 2018 and the establishment of a transitional unity government, clashes and political tensions have persisted.

Fighting between the SSPDF and the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), led by Oyet Nathaniel, deputy chair of the SPLM-IO, has seen an escalation since December in northern Jonglei. Tensions reached a peak in 2025, revealing significant divisions within the transitional government formed under the 2018 peace deal. Initial clashes were reported in January in Western Equatoria State before spreading northward.

Suspended First Vice President Machar has been under house arrest since March 2025 and is currently facing trial.