The airlifting of SSPDF troops from Nasir was delayed due to lack of coordination among officials and military leaders. Tensions between SSPDF and SPLM-IO have increased, leading to casualties in recent clashes. The security situation is stabilizing, but the local community faces humanitarian needs as the country prepares for elections amid ongoing integration challenges of armed groups.
The scheduled airlift of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) troops from Nasir County, Upper Nile State, was postponed due to coordination issues among local officials, White Army commanders, and the SPLA-IO (Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition). This initiative aimed to alleviate tensions following recent clashes between the SSPDF and the White Army, a predominantly Nuer youth group that took control of the town’s military barracks on Tuesday.
The SSPDF leadership accused SPLM-IO officials of inciting the conflict in Nasir, escalating tensions and resulting in the arrest of several SPLM-IO leaders in Juba. The intended troop withdrawal was viewed as a critical move towards de-escalation. Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a White Army commander, explained that the delay in airlifting the SSPDF commander Gen. Majuk Nyok and his troops was due to the absence of Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep.
Yien Bonbon from the White Army confirmed the postponement and stated that airlifting would occur once the aircraft arrives, emphasizing prior delays were linked to the commissioner’s absence. The local community in Nasir remains divided on whether to evacuate SSPDF commander Gen. Majur Manyok amid concerns over diminishing tensions in the area.
Reports indicate that recent clashes resulted in more than 40 White Army fatalities, with significant displacement among civilians, including women and children seeking refuge in nearby bushes or fleeing to Ethiopia. Yien Bonbon confirmed this information, noting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the community. Current reports suggest the security situation in Nasir has stabilized with the White Army in control of the military barracks.
The situation in South Sudan remains complex, with ongoing issues surrounding the integration of various armed groups into a unified national army per the 2018 peace agreement. Despite the nation being formally at peace since the signing by President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, the political atmosphere continues to be fraught with tension ahead of the scheduled post-independence elections in December 2026.
The intended airlifting of SSPDF troops from Nasir was disrupted by coordination failures among local authorities and military leaders. Accusations between the SSPDF and SPLM-IO have heightened tensions, complicating de-escalation efforts. Moreover, significant casualties occurred during the clashes, with a pressing need for humanitarian aid in the region. South Sudan continues to grapple with armed group integration challenges, even amidst a fragile peace leading up to the upcoming elections.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
