UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on the South Sudanese government and opposition forces to immediately stop fighting and begin dialogue, a UN spokesperson said.

"The secretary-general is deeply concerned by the continued escalation of violence in South Sudan, most recently in Jonglei state, which has caused many deaths, injuries and the reported displacement of 180,000 civilians," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general.

Guterres calls on the government of South Sudan and opposition forces to take immediate and decisive action to halt all military operations and de-escalate the situation through inclusive dialogue, he said.

"The Secretary-General emphasizes that the crisis in South Sudan requires a political and not a military solution. He calls on the parties to urgently agree on a consensus-based road map for the final year of the transition period to facilitate credible elections," said Dujarric.

The spokesperson said Guterres is also deeply concerned regarding the impact of the escalating violence on an already dire humanitarian situation, as the South Sudanese government reports that 250,000 civilians were displaced due to the ongoing conflict in the country during the first weeks of 2026.

The secretary-general calls on all parties to protect civilians and to ensure access for the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance and the security of UN peacekeepers, humanitarian personnel and their assets, he said. ■