Juba, South Sudan: The Uganda People’s Defence Air Force (UPDAF) has conducted multiple emergency airdrops of humanitarian aid to severely affected areas of Upper Nile State in South Sudan, where thousands are facing acute famine following the resurgence of armed conflict earlier this year.
The airdrops, executed in coordination with international humanitarian partners, involved hundreds of metric tonnes of food and essential supplies flown from Juba International Airport to remote locations in Ulang and Nasir Counties, according to a statement issued on Thursday, May 29, by Col Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information.
The ongoing conflict, which reignited in March 2025, has seen South Sudan’s People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) clash with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), a Nuer tribal militia linked to detained First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon.
The SPLA-IO, also known locally as the White Army, has been accused of launching ethnically motivated attacks on Dinka communities and other minority groups.
Colonel Magezi confirmed that, at the formal request of President Salva Kiir’s government, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deployed an expeditionary support force in March to provide rear security operations in the capital, Juba, and offer technical military assistance.
“The Ugandan Air Force continues to support South Sudan’s humanitarian response with emergency airlifts to inaccessible areas severely affected by the conflict,” Magezi stated.
The intervention has significantly stabilized security in the greater Juba region, allowing the return of foreign diplomatic missions, reopening of commercial operations, and resumption of regional trade.
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