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PANKHOR, SOUTH SUDAN: Reports of a horrific massacre have emerged from Jonglei State, where elements of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) are accused of killing at least 21 civilians in Pankhor village, Pajiek Payam.
In an official statement released today, February 23, 2026, the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Forward (R-SPLM/F) condemned the act as a “barbaric” violation of human rights. The opposition group, led by Chairman Hon. Nathaniel Garang Aduotdit, alleges that the attack took place on February 21, 2026.
According to the R-SPLM/F, the victims were unarmed and belonged to vulnerable demographics. The reported casualties include:
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10 women, 6 children, 5 elderly men Graphic images obtained by Ethio Insight (shown above) depict a scene of devastation. The photos show multiple bodies, some with visible gunshot wounds and others with hands bound behind their backs, lying in and around residential compounds and rural paths.
The massacre comes at a sensitive time as South Sudan prepares for its general presidential elections later this year. Hon. Nathaniel Garang Aduotdit, a candidate in the 2026 elections, described the event as a “betrayal of the nation’s hope for reconciliation.”
“Such actions perpetuate cycles of violence, deepen wounds of mistrust, and undermine the fragile peace our communities are striving to build,” the statement read.
The R-SPLM/F has formally called upon international monitors and peace partners to take immediate action:
UNMISS and IGAD: Urged to intensify monitoring and pressure to ensure justice.
African Union: Called upon to investigate the “militarized oppression” of civilians.
Civil Society: Encouraged to amplify the voices of the victims to end impunity in South Sudan. The SSPDF high command has not yet issued a formal response to these specific allegations. This incident follows recent reports of “White Army” militia groups arriving in Ayod for integration into the national army, a process that has been fraught with local tension and reports of inter-communal friction.
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