Governor Jadalla Visits Morobo Where Thousands Fled Violence

May 7, 2025 | Morobo County

Central Equatoria Governor Augustino Jadalla traveled to Morobo County on May 7, 2025, following intense clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the SPLA-IO opposition. These hostilities forced more than 7,000 men, women, and children to abandon their homes and seek refuge in nearby towns and makeshift camps. The governor’s visit aimed to evaluate the humanitarian crisis firsthand, coordinate immediate relief efforts, and lay the groundwork for lasting stability in this border region.

Background of the Displacement

The violence erupted on April 24 along several strategic villages near the Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo borders. As gunfire and artillery shells broke out, families fled under cover of darkness, carrying only the bare essentials. Commissioner Charles Data Bullen of Morobo County reported that over 7,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) arrived in Kaya and Morobo town within days, overwhelming local schools and churches converted into temporary shelters.

These displaced communities faced dire shortages of food, clean water, and medical care. Seasonal rains threatened to turn tents into mud pits, while cramped latrine facilities heightened the risk of waterborne diseases. Local leaders and humanitarian actors appealed for urgent government intervention to prevent a secondary health crisis.

Visit to Morobo County

Governor Jadalla arrived with a high-level delegation that included the Ministers of Health, Peace Building, Local Government and Law Enforcement, Gender, Child and Social Welfare, and the State Legal Advisor. Over a four-hour tour, he moved from shelter to shelter, listening to personal testimonies of families who lost homes, crops, and livestock. His presence aimed to signal that the state government recognizes the gravity of the crisis and is committed to swift action.

Local elders and community representatives escorted the delegation, pointing out the most vulnerable groups: unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, and the elderly. Jadalla shook hands with mothers bundled in blankets, consoled widowed heads of household, and assured displaced children that support was on the way.

Humanitarian Assessment

In a makeshift coordination center, the governor convened with health officials and UN agency staff to review a rapid needs assessment. Preliminary reports flagged an acute malnutrition rate of over 15 percent among children under five, surpassing emergency thresholds. Water tests revealed contamination in several shallow wells, and medical teams warned of potential cholera and measles outbreaks if vaccinations were not expedited.

Jadalla ordered the immediate deployment of two mobile clinics equipped with vaccines, antibiotics, and maternal health supplies. He also directed the drilling of additional boreholes and the distribution of water purification tablets to ensure safe drinking water for all camps. Food rations—rice, sorghum, and cooking oil—were to be released from state warehouses within 48 hours.

Ministerial Coordination

The governor’s delegation met Commissioner Bullen, church leaders, and NGO partners to streamline logistics. The Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare outlined plans for gender-sensitive safe spaces, counseling services, and protection mechanisms for women and girls. The Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement discussed security measures to prevent looting and ensure safe passage for relief convoys.

Representatives from Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Committee of the Red Cross pledged to support vaccination drives and emergency surgery teams. The combined efforts of state ministries, UN agencies, and civil society aimed to establish a unified command structure for all humanitarian operations.

Displacement Figures and Living Conditions

Commissioner Bullen’s latest data indicate 7,200 IDPs in Kaya and 4,500 in Morobo town, spread across nine sites. Overcrowding has pushed latrine-to-camp ratios well below recommended standards, and temporary shelters leak during nightly downpours. Many families report sleeping on bare floors, while communal kitchens struggle to feed hundreds of people on limited rations.

Psychosocial teams have begun group therapy sessions for trauma survivors, and child-friendly areas are set up for play and learning. Still, resources remain stretched thin, and the governor emphasized that sustained donor support is crucial to avoid a protracted emergency.

Path to Sustainable Peace

Beyond immediate relief, Governor Jadalla underscored the importance of building trust between communities and security forces. He announced the revival of community dialogue forums—previously suspended—where youth, elders, and combatant representatives can air grievances and negotiate local ceasefires. The Minister of Peace Building will facilitate these talks, with support from traditional authorities and international mediators.

Infrastructure rehabilitation is also on the agenda: repairing damaged roads and bridges to reopen trade routes, restoring markets, and enabling families to return home when conditions permit. These efforts aim to strengthen social cohesion and reduce the likelihood of future displacements.

Next Steps and Accountability

Within seven days, the governor’s office will publish a comprehensive action plan detailing camp decongestion targets, budget allocations, and timelines for service delivery. A multidisciplinary task force—comprising state ministries, humanitarian agencies, and community representatives—will meet biweekly to review progress. All relief distributions will be logged in a public digital portal to ensure transparency and prevent corruption.

Jadalla concluded by calling on international donors and the private sector to join the response, stressing that a multi-stakeholder approach is vital for long-term resilience. He affirmed that no family would be left behind and that Morobo’s recovery would serve as a blueprint for crisis response elsewhere in South Sudan.

Governor Augustino Jadalla’s visit to Morobo County represents a decisive move toward protecting the most vulnerable in Central Equatoria State. By combining on-the-ground assessments with interagency coordination and a clear accountability framework, his administration aims to alleviate immediate suffering and foster conditions for sustainable peace. As displaced families await the promised support, the coming weeks will test the government’s capacity to deliver on its commitments and restore hope to those uprooted by conflict.