South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Commissioner of Pigi County, Suleiman Deng Thon, has urged the transitional government to intervene to prevent an impending attack by Ayod spiritual leader Makuac Tut, who has mobilised forces to target Pigi and Malakal in Upper Nile State.
“A spiritual leader, Makuac Tut, has arrived in Pigi County with plans to attack. The authorities in Ayod have tried to convince him to reconsider, but he has refused. The government must rescue Pigi, especially from the havoc created by the spiritual leader,” Thon said in an interview on Sunday.
The White Army, a community-based militia largely composed of youth, has been fighting alongside Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) against government forces, primarily in the Upper Nile region.
Thon revealed that Makuac Tut has demanded the release of detained First Vice President Riek Machar Teny and Lt Gen Duop Lam, the deputy chief of defence forces from the SPLA-IO.
“Makuac Tut is now stationed with his forces in five areas within Pigi County, including Wun-Lueth, Mat, Kol-Liet, Ayok, and Gok. The Jonglei government has attempted to persuade him to stand down, but he is preparing to launch an attack,” he said.
In March 2025, clashes erupted in Nasir, Upper Nile State, between the White Army and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), resulting in the capture of the army garrison by the White Army.
In April 2025, the SSPDF regained control of Nasir town in Upper Nile State following a month-long battle with the White Army militia, which was allegedly supported by the SPLA-IO.
