South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
At least 18 people have been confirmed killed in Wednesday’s in clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) and the White Army militia, in Nasir County of Upper Nile State.
James Gatluak, Commissioner of Nasir County said that among the dead included 14 soldiers and 4 civilians in the fighting that erupted at around 3 p.m in Nasir town.
“Four civilians were killed and one of them was a woman who died at 8 p.m and then the three men who died on the spot,” Gatluak told Dawn in an interview on Thursday.
He said that children and women were among the 14 wounded people.
Gatluak said that the SSPDF commander in Nasir County told him that they lost about 13 soldiers.
He accused SSPDF soldiers of starting the fight with the White Army on Wednesday.
“The attack was launched by SSPDF forces; they attacked the market from three different directions. It was in the afternoon while I was also in the office,” said Gatluak.
He said the security situation remains unpredictable as SSPDF continues to fight the White Army.
Gatluak said that some of the displaced people particularly women and children are sheltering within nearby primary schools.
Our repeated phone calls to Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesman for comment went unanswered by press time.