New Dynamics in South Sudan Crisis: SSPDF Accused of War Crimes for using Chemical Weapons on Civilians in Lankien

Press Statement

For Immediate Release

December 29, 2025

Heinous Chemical Attack on Civilians in Lankien: SSPDF Accused of War Crimes—International Action Urgently Needed

South Sudan crisis worsen as dynamics changes. On the 29th December, 2025 a tragic atrocity befell yet another South Sudanese community as eyewitnesses and credible local sources confirm that a helicopter gunship, operated by tribal and genocidal forces loyal to the Juba regime, unleashed a catastrophic assault on unarmed civilians in Lankien. Unlike previous and conventional attacks, this operation reportedly carried out using banned weapons of mass destruction, including chemical agents such as nerve gas, mustard gas, and chlorine. These deadly substances are internationally barred, and their use against civilian populations is a grave breach of international humanitarian law and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Hence, this tragic atrocity worsen humanitarian crisis and call for urgent intervention.

While the SSPDF routinely avoids confronting SPLA/IO military positions, instead, they have turned their stockpiles of terror inward targeting densely populated residential neighborhoods. Thus they indiscriminately bombing raids dropped chemical-laden barrels on homes, markets, and even schools, exacting a horrific toll on innocent lives, especially the most vulnerable, women and children. Read more

CHRISTMAS GIFT: STRIKE AGAINST ISIS TERRORIST

US President Donald J. Trump on his usual way of broadcast, tweeted that at his direction as Commander in Chief lunched a powerful and deadly airstrike against ISIS terrorist in Northwest Nigeria sending them unexpected Christmas gift on a Christmas day 25th December, 2025. The terrorists have for long viciously attacked innocent civilians and carried out Christian genocide. Earlier, about a month ago President Trump had warned against their violence and killing of innocent Christian. He then declared Nigeria as a state of particular concern.

Following the airstrikes, armed bandits in Zamfara State have appeared in a viral video, appealing to the state government and the Nigerian Air Force for dialogue as intensified airstrikes continue to hit their hideouts. Read more

THE NIGERIAN POLICE AND CHALLENGES OF POLICING AT THE SUB-NATIONAL LEVELS: IS STATE POLICE A VIABLE OPTION?


COMMUNIQUE ON THE IPSDS SECURITY DISCUSS HELD ON THURSDAY 20TH NOVEMBER, 2025 ON THE THEME “THE NIGERIAN POLICE AND CHALLENGES OF POLICING AT THE SUB-NATIONAL LEVELS: IS STATE POLICE A VIABLE OPTION?”

 By Chukwunons Akogwu PhD

PREAMBLE

The Roundtable was held at the Institute for Peace, Security and Development Studies (IPSDS) building, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on 20th November 2025. It was organized by IPSDS Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with support from Nextier, in partnership with Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP). The Roundtable brought stakeholders together including a traditional ruler, security officers and experts, civil society representatives and members of the academia, to brainstorm and deliberate on the best ways to tackle the complex security challenges ravaging the country, the option of decentralized policing (State Police), its major challenges and key prospects. Read more