The planned evacuation of SSPDF troops from Nasir County faced delays due to poor coordination among officials. Fighting between the SSPDF and the White Army had already led to significant casualties. Community members are divided on the evacuation of SSPDF commander Gen. Majur Manyok, while the overall security situation in Nasir has calmed down despite the recent conflict.
The airlifting of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) troops from Nasir County was postponed due to insufficient coordination among local officials and military leaders. This operation was intended to alleviate rising tensions following clashes between the SSPDF and the White Army, a group primarily composed of Nuer youth who took control of the town and its military barracks. The initiative was part of a broader effort by SPLM-IO leaders in Juba to assist SSPDF troops trapped in the area.
The SSPDF leadership accuses SPLM-IO of instigating the conflict, intensifying the strain between both factions. This accusation resulted in the detention of several high-ranking SPLM-IO officials in Juba, complicating the situation further. The decision to withdraw the troops is perceived as a move to diminish tensions.
Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a White Army commander in Nasir, announced the delay of the airlift, attributing it to the unavailability of Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep. He indicated the UN-chartered aircraft had not yet arrived, stating, “The UN-chartered airplane has not yet arrived to airlift the SSPDF troops. We are currently in the military barracks in Wich-Yar-Adiu.”
Member of the White Army, Yien Bonbon, confirmed the evacuation delay but assured that it would proceed once the aircraft arrived. He stated, “When the aircraft comes today, they will airlift them. Yesterday, the aircraft failed to airlift them because the commissioner did not come to us. We are planning to meet the commissioner this morning.”
The community in Nasir exhibits significant divisions regarding the proposed evacuation of SSPDF commander Gen. Majur Manyok, who remains within a military tank following the barracks’ takeover. Residents are split, with some opposing the evacuation to Malakal or Juba, while others favor it as a means to help reduce tensions.
In the fighting, over 40 members of the White Army were reportedly killed as they engaged with SSPDF forces, which enabled the White Army to seize the military base. Ter divulged, “Those who were killed were members of the local armed youth. Women and children fled into the bushes, and others fled to Ethiopia due to the conflict.”
Yien Bonbon corroborated these figures, reporting more than 40 White Army fatalities and approximately 77 injuries, with many women and children seeking refuge. He expressed concerns over hunger and water shortages as significant challenges faced by returning citizens: “The main challenge is that people lack food and water. Citizens desperately need assistance to return.”
Currently, the security situation appears stable, with the White Army positioned at the military camp after the clash. South Sudan continues to grapple with the integration of its armed groups into a cohesive national army, a critical aspect of the peace agreement established in 2018, which concluded the five-year civil war. Political tensions remain high as the nation anticipates its first post-independence elections in December 2026.
The delay in airlifting SSPDF troops from Nasir emphasizes ongoing tensions between rival factions amid a backdrop of recent violent clashes. With accusations of instigation, community divisions, and considerable casualties reported, the situation highlights the complexities surrounding peace and stability in South Sudan post-conflict. As the nation prepares for impending elections, the need for integration and de-escalation remains pressing.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
