9 SSPDF Soldiers Held as Prisoners of War in Jonglei
December 26, 2025 | Waat
South Sudan’s main opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), announced on Friday that it is holding nine soldiers from the Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) as prisoners of war following intense fighting in Jonglei State.
The announcement comes after SPLA-IO forces captured the town of Waat, the administrative headquarters of Nyirol County, on Wednesday after clashes with government troops stationed in the area.
Capture of Waat Town
According to the SPLA-IO, the town fell after heavy fighting that resulted in the overrunning of an SSPDF military base. The opposition group is allied with the suspended First Vice President Riek Machar.
Peter Gatkuoth Koang, the SPLA-IO-appointed commissioner for Nyirol County, confirmed the capture and said the nine soldiers were taken during the operation.
Condition of Captured Soldiers
Koang said all nine captured soldiers are in good condition, although one sustained an injury during the fighting.
“All of them are in good condition, but one person is wounded in his arm. We are planning to have him evacuated to an MSF facility in Lankien for treatment,” Koang said.
MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, operates medical facilities in the region.
Senior Officers Still at Large
Koang retracted an earlier statement claiming the Waat garrison commander had been captured. He said several senior officers, including three SSPDF generals, remain at large.
Among them is Brigadier General Kuot Atem, who Koang claims is being hidden by local community members due to marital and family ties.
“Our forces know that they are hiding within the community, but we failed to find them. They are being hidden because of marital ties,” he said.
He added that negotiations are ongoing with community leaders to ensure the officers’ safe handover.
Casualties and Seized Equipment
The SPLA-IO claimed that more than 30 government soldiers were killed during the clashes and that its forces seized military equipment, including three tanks.
These claims could not be independently verified.
Captured Soldiers Speak
Two of the detained soldiers spoke to Radio Tamazuj, describing their treatment as respectful.
SSPDF Captain Pagan Omot Anyakwei said he and others fled after their base was overrun before being captured.
“We are being treated with dignity. After the base was overrun, we sought shelter within the community, and the SPLA-IO found us there,” he said.
Sergeant Morris Charles Juma of the SSPDF’s Mechanized Division also confirmed that the captives are safe.
“We are nine soldiers from the Mechanized Division. We are getting brotherly treatment; no problem,” he said.
Government Response Pending
SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang could not immediately be reached for comment regarding the capture of the soldiers or the reported clashes in Waat.
Ongoing Instability in Jonglei
Jonglei State has long been affected by armed conflict, intercommunal violence, and political instability, despite repeated peace agreements aimed at ending South Sudan’s civil war.
The fighting in Waat underscores the fragility of the security situation and the challenges facing efforts to maintain peace in the region.
