South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Atar community in Pigi County is demanding for the removal of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army- In Opposition (SPLA-IO) following recent skirmishes in Canal town.
William Tor, the Secretary General of Atar community blamed the SPLA-IO and the White Army from Gawaar community in Ayod County attacking people on April 19, 2025 in Canal town.
“The Atar community demands that the illegal militias immediately leave Atar land and Pigi County, the Atar community strongly condemns the White Army’s violation of the peace agreement and their unlawful assault on Canal town,” Tor said in a statement on Saturday.
He urged the AU, UNMISS, IGAD, RJMEC, CTSAMVM to investigate violations committed by the SPLA-IO and the White Army.
In addition, Tor called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and international and national humanitarian organizations to provide urgent assistance to the community.
He also urged President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Riek Gai Kok, the Governor of Jonglei State, to send the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) to Pigi County to protect lives and properties.
Tor revealed that the attackers have been forcibly occupying parts of Pigi County since January 2014, adding that more than 100 members of Atar community have been killed and many uprooted from their land.
Suleiman Deng Thon, the Commissioner of Pigi County told The Dawn on Sunday that more than 29,000 civilians have been displaced by the SPLA-IO and the White Army militia to Achap el Nil and Deleib in neighboring Panyikang County.
“The forces of the SPLA-IO attacked Canal town on Saturday, they were repulsed by SSPDF forces but two people died and three others sustained gunshot wounds, the injured have been transferred to Malakal town for treatment,” Thon said.
He disclosed that 25 opposition soldiers were killed during the fighting and two of the wounded soldiers have been captured. He also disclosed that 55 wounded opposition soldiers were transferred to the SPLA-IO bases in Koruai, Atar and Diel.
“The SPLA-IO forces that recently attacked Canal town, have been refusing to report to cantonment sites outside Pigi County and have continued to obstruct the Atar IDPs and refugees from returning to their homes,” Thon said.
