The South Sudan People's Defence Forces have issued an immediate evacuation order for all civilians, United Nations personnel, and humanitarian workers in three counties of Jonglei State. The directive, announced Sunday by SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, requires complete withdrawal from Nyirol, Uror, and Akobo counties within 48 hours ahead of a planned military operation against opposition forces.
The order comes as government troops prepare "Operation Enduring Peace" against the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition, which last week called for its forces to march on the capital Juba and recently captured the strategic town of Pajut. The evacuation directive effectively transforms these counties into a military zone, raising immediate questions about the fate of an estimated 180,000 people already displaced across Jonglei State and the thousands more who lack the means to relocate through active conflict zones.
Latest situation on the ground
The UN Mission in South Sudan has expressed "grave concern" over what it describes as inflammatory rhetoric from military commanders that could trigger "mass atrocities and ethnic violence." UNMISS peacekeepers are maintaining their presence in Akobo to de-escalate tensions, though their status in Nyirol and Uror remains unconfirmed. The mission's statement stopped short of directly criticizing the evacuation order but emphasized its mandate to protect civilians.
Médecins Sans Frontières confirmed it has already evacuated key staff from Akobo, where the organization runs critical health facilities serving populations with minimal access to medical care. Other humanitarian organizations operating in the three counties have not yet publicly confirmed their response to the 48-hour deadline. The SSPDF directive instructs civilians to move to "government-controlled areas" but provides no logistical support, security guarantees, or clarity on reception arrangements in designated zones.
Members are reading: Why the 48-hour deadline reveals government intent to use indiscriminate force incompatible with civilian presence.
What comes next
The evacuation order places the UN in an impossible position: comply and abandon protection mandates, or resist and face direct confrontation with government forces. UNMISS's decision to maintain presence in Akobo suggests the mission will not fully withdraw, setting up a potential standoff. Humanitarian organizations face similar calculations with higher risks, lacking the UN's political protection.
The immediate future for Jonglei's civilian population is displacement at scale. Even partial compliance with the evacuation order will trigger new flows into already overwhelmed areas, while those unable or unwilling to leave face whatever Operation Enduring Peace entails. The government's failure to provide evacuation support suggests it has no genuine concern for where these populations end up, only that they exit the operational zone before military action begins.
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