JUBA, July 6 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's peace monitors on Monday condemned renewed fighting between the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Walgak, Akobo County, Jonglei State.
The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) said that the clashes on Sunday, which resulted in casualties and heightened insecurity, undermine the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
The commission warned that the violence threatens the safety of civilians and risks reversing the fragile gains made in the country's peace process.
"The commission calls upon all parties to immediately cease hostilities, exercise maximum restraint, and resolve their differences through dialogue in accordance with the provisions of the peace agreement. Military confrontation cannot provide a sustainable solution to political challenges. It only deepens human suffering and erodes public confidence in the peace process," RJMEC said in a statement.
The peace monitors noted that it is particularly concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the fighting, including the displacement of civilians and the potential disruption of lifesaving assistance to vulnerable communities.
RJMEC called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and guarantee safe, unhindered humanitarian access to those in need.
It further called on the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism to investigate the incident.
Clashes between the SSPDF and the SPLA-IO escalated following an attack by the White Army militia on the SSPDF base in Nasir, Upper Nile State, in March 2025. ■