09/09/2025
Civilians in Pigi County, Jonglei State, are fleeing in large numbers to Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, and nearby villages amid growing fears of an imminent attack following the arrival of controversial spiritual leader Makuach Tut.
Over the weekend, Makuach, a prominent Nuer spiritual figure and commander of the White Army militias in Ayod County, reportedly defied local peace efforts and began advancing toward Pigi. Local authorities and residents believe he intends to launch an offensive and, if possible, cross the Nile River to attack Malakal.
Pigi County, located on the northern edge of Jonglei State, sits at the confluence of the Sobat and Nile Rivers, just south of Malakal.
Makuach, who is aligned with both the White Army and SPLA-IO forces, last week demanded the release of detained opposition leaders, including First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, who has been under house arrest in Juba since March 2025.Several residents who spoke to Radio Tamazuj on Monday said women and children have already been evacuated to safer locations inside and outside the county.
โMakuach Tut and his forces are already in Pigi,โ said Santo Monyluak, a teacher and resident. โThere are only men and government troops remaining in the county. No children are attending school because theyโve fled with their mothers to Malakal and surrounding villages like Panam, Obel and Ashab En-Nil.โ
Abiel Arop, another resident who also serves as the countyโs Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator, described the situation as dire and called on aid agencies to provide immediate assistance to displaced civilians.
โMost civilians have already fled because they fear the spiritual leader Makuach,โ he said. โFor now, humanitarians should assist our people in displacement settlements. Personally, I had my family evacuated.โ
It was not immediately clear how many people had fled, as no official figures were available.
Pigi County Commissioner Suleiman Deng confirmed Makuachโs presence in the areas of Koliet and Agok, within Kowach Payam of Pigi County. He urged the spiritual leader to halt the offensive, noting that civilians are already suffering due to seasonal flooding.โMakuach Tut is already in parts of Kowach Payam with his forces,โ Deng said. โHe rejected dialogue and said he will attack Pigi and then Malakal, and that he will only stop fighting if Riek Machar and Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam are released. Civilians in Pigi are fearful and fleeing.โ
โAs commissioner, I am also afraid because I am human,โ he added. โBut I cannot run away and leave my people behind.โDeng accused Makuach of committing war crimes by putting civilians at risk and called on Pigi natives to consider legal action against him.White Army commanders in Pigi could not immediately be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, South Sudan Peopleโs Defense Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson Maj. Gen. L*l Ruai Koang acknowledged reports of White Army militia movements but said the affected areas in Pigi are under the control of SPLA-IO forces.โWeโve seen this in the media, but the areas this group is moving through in Pigi are under SPLM-IO control,โ Koang said. โIn Ayod County, the national army only maintains a presence in Ayod town. Itโs up to the SPLM-IO to ensure civilian protection in their areas of influence.โ
Maj. Gen. Koang said the army could only respond if Makuach entered areas under government control.
Edmund Yakani, a prominent civil society activist and executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), warned that the situation in the country could escalate rapidly.โThis is a clear early warning of potentially deadly armed violence between the SSPDF and the White Army, which is being mobilized under the leadership of spiritual figure Makuach Tut,โ Yakani said. โIf violence breaks out, the SPLA-IO is likely to align with the White Army. This is a dangerous development in Upper Nile State.โYakani urged national leaders and armed opposition groups to prioritize dialogue over armed conflict. โIt is essential that the leadership of the country and armed opposition groups resolve their political differences through dialogue,โ he said
