South Sudan’s army has recaptured the strategic town of Nasir in Upper Nile state, months after it was seized by an ethnic Nuer militia in clashes that deepened the country’s political crisis and led to the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar.
President Salva Kiir and Machar have led a fragile power-sharing government since a 2018 peace agreement ended a devastating civil war between their rival factions, a conflict that killed hundreds of thousands.
Machar was placed under house arrest earlier this year, accused of inciting rebellion by allegedly supporting the White Army militia involved in the fighting. His detention has raised international concerns about a potential resurgence of ethnic violence.
Both the South Sudanese military and the White Army confirmed that Nasir was retaken on Sunday without resistance. “We were just taking a tactical withdrawal,” said White Army spokesperson Honson Chuol James, adding that 17 people were killed during intense bombardment of the nearby village of Thuluc.
Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said government forces avoided an ambush in Thuluc due to air surveillance. “They were spotted while regrouping and were targeted with aerial fire, causing them to disperse,” Koang said.
The recapture comes amid growing regional involvement. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni visited Kiir earlier this month, after deploying troops to help secure the capital, Juba. Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba—Museveni’s son—claimed that Ugandan forces have killed 1,500 White Army fighters, who previously fought alongside Machar’s forces during the civil war.
Meanwhile, Machar’s SPLM-IO party appears to be fracturing. Earlier this month, one faction claimed to have temporarily replaced him as party chairman, though the group’s military wing reiterated its loyalty to Machar despite his detention.
Reuters
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