South Sudan's military recaptures key town from White Army militia
Machar's detention under house arrest, for trying to stir up a rebellion through his supposed support for the White Army militia in Upper Nile, has ignited international fears of renewed conflict along ethnic lines.
South Sudan's army said it had recaptured a key town in Upper Nile state that it lost to an ethnic Nuer militia in March in clashes which led to the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and a spiralling political crisis.
President Salva Kiir has served in an uneasy power-sharing government with Machar since a 2018 peace deal ended a civil war between fighters loyal to the two men, which killed hundreds of thousands of people.
More To Read
- Bombing destroys last functional health facility in Jonglei State, South Sudan
- UN extends South Sudan peacekeeping mission by nine days amid escalating tensions
- South Sudan peace deal under threat as key opposition leaders detained
- South Sudan dispatches high-level delegation to US for urgent deportation and bilateral talks
- UN criticises global inaction as South Sudan teeters on brink of civil war
- Salva Kiir appoints new foreign minister as he seeks to rebrand South Sudan’s image
Machar's detention under house arrest, for trying to stir up a rebellion through his supposed support for the White Army militia in Upper Nile, has ignited international fears of renewed conflict along ethnic lines.
Spokespeople for the military and the White Army, which Machar's party denies backing, said Nasir town was recaptured on Sunday without a fight.
"We were just taking a tactical withdrawal," said Honson Chuol James, White Army spokesperson, adding that 17 people were killed during heavy bombardment of the nearby village of Thuluc.
Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said the military was able to avoid an ambush in Thuluc thanks to close air support.
"They were spotted when they were grouping, and they were fired on, and then they dispersed," Koang said.
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni visited Kiir earlier this month after deploying his army to help secure South Sudan's capital, Juba, amid the heightened political tensions.
Uganda's military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also Museveni's son, claims his troops have since killed 1,500 fighters from the White Army, which fought alongside Machar's forces in the civil war.
Earlier this month, Machar's SPLM-IO party appeared to be starting to splinter. One faction declared it had temporarily replaced Machar as party chairman, while the armed wing said it remained loyal to their detained leader.
Top Stories Today
- Autopsy: Kasipul MP Charles Were died from five gunshot wounds
- Kenya among 10 African countries to share Sh64.67bn health fund
- Police seek to hold officer, 3 others in Kasipul MP murder for 30 days
- Bobi Wine’s bodyguard appears in court after alleged abduction by Muhoozi
- National campaign launched to tackle GBV and femicide
- Four police officers charged with murder of Baby Samantha Pendo
- Rights groups decry injustice as 8 officers cleared in Baby Pendo case
- Pope Francis's popemobile set to become health clinic for Gaza children
- Millers increase unga prices as maize supply tightens
- Court to rule on halt of prison recruitments, suspension of budget-making process
- State blames underdevelopment for insecurity in 23 counties
- Pakistani Bank Al Habib announces exit from Kenya after 7 years
- Baby Pendo murder case: 11 officers to be charged with crimes against humanity
- Somali coffee and tea: Why milk makes all the difference
- From chapati rolls to canjeero pizza: How families are reinventing snack time
- Kamukunji residents participate in NG-CDF public consultations
- No cause for panic over unga prices, state says amid rising food costs
- Political leaders condemn shoe-throwing incident on Ruto in Migori
- Rwanda in talks to receive migrants deported from US
- Baby Pendo murder case: DPP drops charges against 6 senior police officers
![President Ruto hit with shoe during Migori rally, continues with speech [Video]](https://publish.eastleighvoice.co.ke/mugera_lock/uploads/2025/05/RUTO.jpg)
