Juba: The South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) has issued a directive for the immediate evacuation of civilians, humanitarian organizations, and UN personnel from areas under opposition control in Jonglei State, as they prepare for a significant military operation.

According to Anadolu Agency, SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang announced in a video statement that all NGOs and UNMISS personnel must vacate Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties within 48 hours. Civilians in these regions are advised to relocate to government-controlled areas for their safety, as the army gears up for 'Operation Enduring Peace' against the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).

Koang warned that armed civilians found near SPLA-IO military sites would be targeted as legitimate military threats. He further instructed that armed civilians and those not aligned with the White Army should surrender their weapons to the nearest SSPDF outpost and move their families and livestock to areas under government control.

The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) voiced its concern earlier on Sunday over reports of a senior military leader urging attacks on civilians in Jonglei State. It also highlighted that over 180,000 people have been displaced due to intensifying conflicts between the primary parties of the 2018 peace agreement.

South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan in 2011, has been embroiled in conflict since December 2013. The conflict began when President Salva Kiir Mayardit accused then-Vice President Riek Machar of attempting a coup. Despite peace agreements in 2018 and 2022, the nation remains unstable.

In February, the White Army, a militia linked to Machar's Nuer ethnic group, captured a town in Upper Nile State, leading to the arrest of several generals and ministers with ties to Machar's movement. Opposition leader Machar and others face charges including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, in addition to allegations of conspiracy and inciting violence in Nasir County.