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.
Confirming the attack, Lt. Col. Khor Nyang Mabor, SPLA-IO military spokesperson in Jonglei, told Radio Tamazuj that the airstrike, which targeted a market in Lankien at around 10 am, killed at least 9 people, including children. He however, condemned the attack as “heinous.”
“At 10 am, the SSPDF carried out an airstrike on a market area in Lankien town, killing nine people. Of those killed, three were women, five were children, and one was a handicapped man,” he said.
Lt. Col. Mabor also reported clashes between SPLA-IO and SSPDF forces in Riang Payam earlier on Monday, resulting in casualties on both sides. “SSPDF launched a ground attack on our territory in Riang Payam, Nyirol County. We lost two soldiers, and four were injured, while five SSPDF soldiers were found dead,” he said.
This dynamic of chemical weapons is unequivocally condemned by the global community and therefore should be halted. Anyone who orders or carries out such ghastly acts is, by definition, committing acts of terror and should face the consequences of war crime. The Lou Nuer High Level Political Committee (LNHLPC) denounces, in the strongest possible terms, this latest Lankien Massacre.
According to LNHLPC, this is a call to the United Nations Security Council, the entire UN system, pressure groups, respected human rights organizations such rescue intentional, amnesty international immediately should launch an independent, comprehensive, and transparent investigation into this incident. The facts must be exposed, and those responsible must be brought to justice without delay.
Moreover, we hold President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Juba-based regime directly accountable for these monstrous war crimes and crimes against humanity. The involvement of the SSPDF and their foreign allies, including the UPDF, in orchestrating and facilitating this massacre is irrefutable and must not go unpunished.
Let it be known: Deliberately targeting civilians, especially women and children, and striking essential locations such as markets and schools is a flagrant crime under international law. President Salva Kiir has long ceased to represent the aspirations or the dignity of the people; his regime is sustained by tribalism, bloodshed, and systematic violation of human rights.
Justice will prevail. The innocent blood shed in Lankien and elsewhere cries out for accountability. We call on all peace-loving nations, international actors, and global citizens to stand in solidarity with the victims and ensure that those responsible are held to account — wherever they hide and however long it takes.
Signed
Goanar Gordon Yien
Secretary and Rapporteur,
Lou Nuer High Level Political Committee (LNHLPC).