SOUTH SUDAN: SSPDF Commander Killed In Helicopter Attack During UN Evacuation In Nasir

By Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan

Major General Majur Dak, a commander of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), along with 27 of his soldiers, was killed during a United Nations evacuation operation in Nasir on Friday morning, according to a government spokesperson. A UN crew member also lost their life in the attack.

The evacuation was part of efforts to ease tensions following recent clashes between the SSPDF and the White Army, an armed youth group mainly from the Nuer ethnic community.

The White Army is believed to have connections to the SPLA-IO, the opposition forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar.

Earlier in the week, the White Army seized control of Nasir’s military barracks after intense fighting with government forces. This left General Majur and his troops stranded in the bush, prompting the UN’s intervention.

During the operation, the UN helicopter came under heavy fire from White Army forces.

The mission, coordinated by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, aimed to rescue the stranded SSPDF soldiers.

The SSPDF leadership has accused the SPLM-IO of inciting the violence in Nasir, exacerbating already tense relations between the two groups.

In response, several senior SPLM-IO officials, including Gabriel Duop Lam, deputy chief of the SSPDF and SPLA-IO chief of staff, and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang, were arrested in Juba earlier this week.

In a press briefing on Friday evening, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth who is the government spoke person and ails from SSPDF which is the ruling party confirmed that around 27 soldiers perished alongside General Majur during the evacuation.

However, the exact number of casualties remains unclear, and some of the forces involved have since dispersed and are being pursued.

The violence in Nasir underscores the ongoing challenges South Sudan faces in fully integrating its armed groups into a unified national army, one of the key stipulations of the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war.

Though South Sudan has formally been at peace since the signing of the agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, political tensions remain high, and security issues continue to plague the country.