South Sudan’s military has announced the recapture of Nasir, a strategic town in Upper Nile state, from an ethnic Nuer militia known as the White Army, in a development that marks a new flashpoint in the country’s fragile political landscape.
The town had been seized in March in clashes that triggered the arrest and house detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, accused of backing the militia in an attempted rebellion.
Machar’s detention has further strained the already fragile unity government formed under the 2018 peace deal with President Salva Kiir, raising fears of renewed ethnic conflict.
Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang confirmed on Sunday that the military regained control of Nasir without resistance but reported heavy bombardment in the nearby village of Thuluc, where 17 people were killed.
“We were able to avoid an ambush in Thuluc thanks to close air support. The militia was spotted grouping, and they were fired on, causing them to disperse,” Koang said.
White Army spokesperson Honson Chuol James claimed the group’s retreat was a “tactical withdrawal” rather than a defeat.
President Kiir’s uneasy coalition with Machar—once rivals in a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands—has come under severe strain, especially after Machar’s SPLM-IO party began showing signs of division earlier this month.
A splinter faction announced a temporary replacement for Machar as party chairman, though the armed wing maintains loyalty to their detained leader.
The escalating tensions have prompted regional concern. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni visited Kiir earlier this month and deployed Ugandan troops to bolster security in the capital, Juba.
Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba—Museveni’s son claimed Ugandan forces have killed 1,500 White Army fighters since their deployment.
The situation remains tense, with the international community urging restraint and dialogue to avoid plunging the country back into large-scale conflict.
