South Sudan: Those displaced return after fleeing violence
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The sun sets over the docks in Pajiek village, located in Jonglei state, South Sudan.
Thousands of people have returned to their homes in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State after fleeing weeks of violence in the town of Tambura and its surrounding areas. According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the situation in the region has improved, with calm reportedly returning following the unrest that forced many civilians to seek shelter at a temporary UNMISS base.
Monica Zeferina, one of the displaced individuals, shared her experience with peacekeepers as they patrolled the area. She explained that she and her family had been living in the bush for about two weeks after fleeing their home in Tambura. “We don’t know the armed men killing our people… We cannot move because we don’t have any means of transport to carry our children to a safer area. It’s difficult for us,” she said, highlighting the dire circumstances many displaced families have faced.
Colonel Shams Sittique, a senior military observer with UNMISS, assured that the mission was continuing to monitor the situation and working to bring the violence under control. The unrest in Tambura and nearby areas had displaced thousands, with many having no choice but to take refuge in the bush or near the temporary UNMISS base, waiting for the situation to improve enough for them to return home safely.
While calm has returned to Western Equatoria, other regions in South Sudan are also seeing political activity and efforts aimed at promoting stability. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, political parties and civil society organizations have come together to formulate an “action plan” for holding free and fair elections in 2026. This initiative, supported by UNMISS, was part of a three-day Political Parties’ Forum held in Aweil, the state’s capital.
The forum was attended by representatives from eight political parties and seven civil society groups, all of whom signed a plan aimed at creating an inclusive and secure civic and political environment ahead of the elections. The plan seeks to ensure that there is “an inclusive, secure and participatory civic and political space,” essential for the success of the democratic process. Guang Cong, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for UNMISS, emphasized the importance of an open political space, stating that it is critical for political actors to freely assemble, register their parties, and have equal access to media to promote their agendas.
The elections were initially scheduled for December 2024 but were postponed by the South Sudanese government in September. The government cited the need to complete essential processes, including conducting a national census, drafting a permanent constitution, and registering political parties, which were deemed necessary to ensure free and fair elections. As a result, the election date has been pushed back to December 22, 2026.
This is the second time since South Sudan’s independence in 2011 that the country has postponed elections. The transitional government, which took office in February 2020, has faced numerous challenges in ensuring stability and laying the groundwork for democratic governance. The extension of the transitional period is aimed at addressing key issues, such as constitutional reforms, security concerns, and the establishment of necessary infrastructure to hold credible elections.
Despite the political and security challenges, South Sudan continues to take steps toward stabilizing its political environment and preparing for future elections. The recent political forum in Northern Bahr el Ghazal represents a significant move toward fostering dialogue and cooperation between political parties and civil society, as well as ensuring that the electoral process will be transparent and inclusive when the time comes.
The situation in Tambura serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that South Sudan faces, particularly in ensuring the safety and security of its citizens. As displaced people begin to return to their homes, the country remains in a delicate phase, with both political and security challenges continuing to shape its path toward a more peaceful and democratic future. The efforts of UNMISS and local actors, along with the ongoing dialogue surrounding the 2026 elections, will play a critical role in determining the future of South Sudan and the well-being of its people.
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