YAMBIO – Calm has returned to Western Equatoria State after years of deadly clashes between forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), which erupted in mid-2021 and left deep scars across several counties.
The conflict, which began in Tambura County, was driven by political rivalry, ethnic divisions, and competition for local authority.
It quickly spread to nearby areas, claiming dozens of lives, displacing hundreds of families, and disrupting livelihoods. Schools and markets were closed for months, while humanitarian operations were severely restricted.
Speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday, John Cele, the Acting Commissioner of Tambura County, said the security situation has improved significantly, with residents returning home and economic life slowly resuming.
“The market was full of people today. Many women from Nabanga came to Tambura market, though some men are still afraid to move freely,” Commissioner Cele said. “There’s relative calm now, and people are crossing to Nabanga and Yubu without fear. We thank God for the peace returning.”
Community leaders say rebuilding is underway as schools reopen and trade activities pick up. They have urged residents to embrace reconciliation and unity to prevent renewed violence.
Wilson John, a resident of Tambura, noted that while the area is calm, tensions still linger.
“The people of Tambura are slowly coming back home, and we hope peace will continue. But there are still armed elements around, so we need continued peace efforts,” he said.
James Abdallah Arona, Acting Minister of Information and Communication in Western Equatoria State, confirmed that the overall security situation in the state is stable.
“Western Equatoria State is relatively calm. People are moving freely in Tambura, and there are no major threats to peace,” Arona said.
He added that other areas previously affected by insecurity—including Lakamadi in Mundri East and Nagero County—are also stable, allowing humanitarian agencies to resume operations and assist affected communities.
The violence that rocked Western Equatoria between 2021 and 2023 was among the worst intercommunal and political conflicts in South Sudan’s post-independence era. The fighting, largely between Azande and Balanda communities, displaced tens of thousands of people into Yambio, Ezo, and even across the border into the Central African Republic.
With peace gradually taking hold, local authorities and community leaders are calling for sustained dialogue, reconciliation, and disarmament to consolidate the fragile calm. For now, the people of Western Equatoria are focused on rebuilding their homes, livelihoods, and hopes after years of turmoil.
