The White Army has declared control over Nasir in Upper Nile State after combat with the SSPDF. Leader Ter Chuol Gatkuoth announced their victory and reported casualties on both sides. Upper Nile State officials confirmed fighting has been ongoing, while the SSPDF has not provided an official response, raising concerns of escalating violence in the area.
A militia group known as the White Army has announced its control over the strategic town of Nasir in Upper Nile State, South Sudan, following intense clashes with government forces. The White Army, composed mainly of armed Nuer youth, reported the seizure of the town after a series of confrontations with the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) on Tuesday.
Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a leader within the White Army, informed Radio Tamazuj that their forces successfully drove government troops from Nasir. He stated, “We clashed with government soldiers this morning and chased them away. They are now in the bushes,” asserting that they have taken over the military barracks and seized equipment from the SSPDF, including heavy machine guns.
Mr. Gatkuoth also reported casualties on both sides, claiming over 21 White Army fighters have died, though he lacks precise figures regarding SSPDF losses. He remarked, “Those killed from the side of the White Army are more than 21 killed. However, I have no precise information on the number of soldiers killed on the SSPDF.” Upper Nile State Information Minister James Basha acknowledged ongoing combat in Nasir but indicated that information regarding casualties is still being compiled.
The SSPDF has not issued any formal statement regarding the clashes. However, Major General Lul Ruai Koang, a spokesperson for the SSPDF, stated via his official Facebook page that the army is currently “not in a position to provide a media briefing on the security situation in Nasir and the surrounding areas.”
Nasir, located near the Ethiopian border, has been a pivotal area in the context of South Sudan’s civil unrest. The White Army has a history of engaging in ethnic violence and opposing government forces, which raises alarms concerning the increasing violence in Upper Nile State, an area that has experienced instability since 2013.
The recent claims by the White Army of control over Nasir highlight the ongoing volatility in Upper Nile State, South Sudan. Despite their assertions of success against the SSPDF, the absence of an official military statement leaves uncertainty surrounding the actual situation. The historical context of violence in this region underscores the potential for further escalation in unrest.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
