South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Executive Director for the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) Ter Manyang Gatwech, has expressed scepticism over the safe return of displaced civilians to Nasir and Ulang counties, Upper Nile State.
This comes after the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) assured civilians wishing to return of safety, after it dislodged the White Army militia in Nasir and Ulang.
“I doubt whether the civilians will come to the town after witnessing deadly violence from the SSPDF,” Gatwech told The Dawn in an interview on Tuesday.
He suggested that religious leaders and civil society representatives be deployed to assess the situation and engage with affected communities, before giving green light for their return..
“There is no trust now between the SSPDF and civilians, especially among the Nuer community, who believe they have been deliberately targeted and killed by their own government forces,” Gatwech said.
The SSPDF Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Paul Nang Majok, said during a visit to Nasir town on Monday that stability has been restored following intense fighting since March 4 with the White Army.
“Nasir is now safe. We are calling on all our people who fled during the fighting to return to their homes the situation is under control,” Nang said.
Nang, who is currently touring the eastern counties of Upper Nile State, was joined by senior military officials, including Gen. Johnson Olony and Maj.Gen. Micheal Majok, commander of SSPDF Division Two.
The CDF urged civilians to return weapons taken from SSPDF soldiers during the fighting.
He also urged fighters from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) and the White Army to surrender and join cantonment sites as outlined in the revitalised peace agreement.
The SSPDF has been fighting the White Army-a community defence group in Nasir since mid-February 2025. The fighting which has killed more than 180 people intensified on March 7, when the White Army overran the SSPDF base in Nasir, killing 27 soldiers including Maj.Gen David Majur Dak and one UN personnel during an evacuation mission.
The incident sparked the house arrest of First Vice President and chairman of the SPLM/A-IO Riek Machar Teny and the SSPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Gen.Gabriel Duop Lam, Puot Kang Chol, Minister of Petroleum and other members of the opposition party.
