The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) have retaken the strategic town of Nasir from the White Army militia group after more than a month of occupation, reports from Juba show.
The White Army, a Nuer civilian militia, seized Nasir in Upper Nile State on March 4, sparking fighting with government forces.
After the fresh clashes, the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) sent troops to Juba to support South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) at the request of the Juba government.
The distance from Nasir to Malakal, the state capital, is 185 kilometers (115 miles). Malakal serves as the capital of Upper Nile State in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan, along the White Nile River.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesman, confirmed the SSPDF’s return to Nasir County in an interview with Radio Tamazuj, a news service and current affairs broadcaster that covers South Sudan.
“We are back in Nasir, where we are waiting for detailed information from the commanding officer who led the troops,” Koang said. “One of our core principles is to take ultimate care during military actions to avoid or minimize collateral damage,” he told the news agency.
Local sources in Nasir County also confirmed to the broadcaster that the SSPDF entered Nasir without encountering resistance, as the White Army had withdrawn before their arrival.
“Nasir was evacuated before the arrival of the SSPDF, exactly like what happened in Ulang County recently,” one source is quoted as saying.
Bang Hoth Yuel, a representative of the opposition SPLM-IO in Ethiopia, also confirmed the SSPDF’s presence in Nasir. He said government forces clashed with the White Army in Yomding and Kuich areas before moving into the town of Nasir.
“As I speak to you now, the SSPDF forces are in Nasir, but more details are unavailable,” he said.
The White Army captured Nasir last month after clashes that killed SSPDF commander Gen. David Majur Dak.
Nasir, located near the Ethiopian border, has been a flashpoint in South Sudan’s ongoing unrest. The White Army has played a significant role in past violence, often opposing government forces.
