Embed with SPLA-IO, South Sudan by Sumy Sadurni

Embed with the Sudan People's Liberation Army- in Opposition rebel forces as they fight for control of Yei State in South Sudan. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues. <<Originally published by Agence France Presse in October 2018>>

An SPLA-IO rebel fighter goes o...ring parties fight for control.

An SPLA-IO rebel fighter goes on patrol near Kerwa. Five years of fighting in South Sudan have taken their toll on both fighters and civilians. The rebels get their ammunition from defeated government soldiers but are clearly worn out both physically and mentally. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

A SPLA-IO rebel fighter watches...ring parties fight for control.

A SPLA-IO rebel fighter watches out for government troops as the patrol travels in the area of Kerwa, South Sudan. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

A road sign at an intersection ...ring parties fight for control.

A road sign at an intersection pointing to Kajo-Keji district, where heavy fighting has been taken place for the past week. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

An SPLA-IO rebel fighter enjoys...ring parties fight for control.

An SPLA-IO rebel fighter enjoys his cigarette at Bigiro civilian base, According to SPLA-IO officials, the fighting in Central Equatoria is happening specifically due cantonment issues in the peace deal. They believe that if the government places its own comissioners in the region, the national army won't re-integrate rebel forces and they will be wiped out. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel fighters in Panyu...ring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel fighters in Panyume base go on patrol to survey the area. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

Plain clothed SPLA-IO rebel fig...ring parties fight for control.

Plain clothed SPLA-IO rebel fighters wake up in Birigo town, a small civilian base protected by a few troops. Far from the frontline, the main duties here include patrolling and carrying out intelligence missions. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel fighters in Panyume base go on patrol to survey the area. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel fighters go on pa...ring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel fighters go on parade in Panyume base as they prepare for deployment. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

"If the governemnt doe...ring parties fight for control.

"If the governemnt doesn't accept the peace, we will have to keep fighting," says SPLA-IO Colonel Jeremiah Dup Chan at Panyume Base. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

An SPLA-IO fighter, Peter, insi...ring parties fight for control.

An SPLA-IO fighter, Peter, inside the house he has occupied for the last 4 months. It was left behind by civilians fleeing the war when it reached Panyume. Peter himself, from Upper Nile, hasn't seen his family and children in five years since the beginning of the war. However, he said that if the government doesn't stop fighting, neither will he. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel- controlled Panyu...ring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel- controlled Panyume base camp in South Sudan. While many fighters occupied empty homes from civilians that fled, others have built themselves small hay huts to sleep in. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO fighters spending their...ring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO fighters spending their spare time playing cards at Panyume base camp. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

Rose Night is a SPLA-IO rebel s...ring parties fight for control.

Rose Night is a SPLA-IO rebel soldier now deployed in Birigo town. Her main duties include cooking, cleaning and looking after the compound. However, she keeps her gun in the kitchen for protection if it’s needed. While her family is in the refugee settlements in Uganda, she refuses to go join them and wants to continue to take part in the struggle. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

While mostly all of the civilia...ring parties fight for control.

While mostly all of the civilians in the region have fled to neighbouring countries, many have decided to stay to help the fighters. Here, in Birigo, a woman grows whatever crop she can such as maize (pictured) , beans and sorghum in order to feed the fighters. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

The SPLA-IO does not recieve su...ring parties fight for control.

The SPLA-IO does not recieve support from international donors, therefore according to officials, all of their weapons are acquired during fighting with government forces. SPLA-IO Spokesperson Lam Paul says that lack of ammunition is their main disadvantage. SPLA-IO rebel fighters go on parade in Panyume base as they prepare for deployment. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

An Internaly Displaced Person (...ring parties fight for control.

An Internaly Displaced Person (IDP) in Korijo IDP camp, situated in South Sudan near the border with Uganda. The camp itself was opened in March 2018 and currently houses around 40,000 displaced people who have fled recent fighting in Central Equatoria. The unofficial camp is run by the rebel forces who control that area (SPLA-IO). Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

Internally displaced persons (I...ring parties fight for control.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Korijo camp, on the border with Uganda, prepare a meal. Due to the lack of humanitarian aid because of the fighting in the area, services and resources are scarce. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

Janet Tereka is an IDP in Korij...ring parties fight for control.

Janet Tereka is an IDP in Korijo camp which is controlled by the rebel forces. She was forced from her home and was displaced multiple times along the way until she ended here. She sleeps only with the blanket in the bucket to her right, and the few belongings she has were purchased in Korijo. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

Korijo IDP camp is controlled b...ring parties fight for control.

Korijo IDP camp is controlled by the SPLA-IO and homes people that have been displaced from other camps due to fighting. It is an unofficial camp and there is no humanitarian aid reaching it, however due to the proximity of the refugees on the Ugandan border, the rebels have bought supplies such as tarpaulin from the black market. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

SPLA-IO rebel fighters go on parade in Panyume base as they prepare for deployment. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

An SPLA-IO fighter in Panyume c...ring parties fight for control.

An SPLA-IO fighter in Panyume carries a rosary with him all the time. Despite a peace deal being signed by the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and opposition leader Riek Machar on September 12, conflict in Central Equatoria continues as both warring parties fight for control.

Sumy Sadurni

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