By Our Reporter
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has declared a six-month state of emergency in the restive Warrap State and Mayom County of Unity State, citing a deadly escalation in intercommunal violence and deepening insecurity.
The sweeping directive, issued via presidential decrees broadcast on state-run SSBC, grants security forces broad powers and permits the government to take “all necessary measures” to restore order in regions already teetering on the edge of lawlessness.
Crisis Zones Locked Down
The emergency declaration effectively locks down the affected areas, where movement is expected to be heavily restricted. The government has already begun deploying additional troops, and military aircraft conducted airstrikes Thursday morning along the volatile Warrap–Unity border in an apparent show of force.
The epicenter of the violence is Tonj East County in Warrap, where numerous civilians have been killed in recent weeks in fierce intercommunal clashes. In Mayom County, authorities report cross-border cattle raids by armed youth from neighboring areas, further fueling chaos.
Fears Of Widening Conflict
Security analysts warn that the violence, while localized, has the potential to spiral into a broader national crisis, threatening to unravel South Sudan’s already fragile peace.
“The 2018 peace deal is hanging by a thread,” said a Juba-based analyst. “Ethnic divisions are hardening, the opposition is sidelined, and trust among leaders is all but gone.”
Tensions have been mounting nationwide, with opposition leader Riek Machar still under de facto house arrest in Juba, and fresh clashes erupting between SPLA-IO forces and government troops in Upper Nile State—raising fears of a return to full-scale civil war.
Legal Uncertainty Lingers
Under South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution, a presidential declaration of emergency must be tabled before the National Legislative Assembly within 15 days for approval. However, Parliament is currently in recess, leaving questions over the legal status and oversight of the sweeping powers now in force.
This is not the first time Kiir has invoked emergency powers in Warrap. A similar declaration was issued in 2017, following outbreaks of violence in Gogrial and parts of Tonj, though critics argue that such measures have failed to address root causes of recurring violence.
A Nation On The Brink
The latest emergency measures come amid a volatile political climate, where peace remains elusive and armed mobilizations are on the rise. As Kiir moves to tighten control in the troubled regions, observers are watching closely to see whether this is a containment effort or a prelude to deeper instability.
What remains clear is that South Sudan is once again approaching a dangerous crossroads, where the balance between peace and renewed conflict is as fragile as ever.