South Sudan army retakes Nasir town amid Machar tensions

South Sudan’s military has regained control of Nasir, a key town in Upper Nile state, months after it was taken by the White Army militia, as tensions continue to rise over the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar.

The recapture of the town comes during a sensitive period for the country, following Machar’s house arrest in March for allegedly supporting the ethnic Nuer militia.

The White Army had seized Nasir in a confrontation that deepened the political crisis and raised concerns of renewed ethnic conflict in South Sudan.

The clashes also led to Machar’s arrest, a move that attracted widespread attention and warnings from the international community.

Since 2018, President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar have led a fragile power-sharing government, formed to end a civil war that left hundreds of thousands dead.

But their alliance has remained strained, and the recent events have sparked fears of instability returning to parts of the country.

Military spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang confirmed that the army recaptured Nasir on Sunday without engaging in direct combat.

"They were spotted when they were grouping, and they were fired on, and then they dispersed," he said, referring to an attempted ambush in the nearby village of Thuluc.

He added that the army was able to avoid the trap due to close air support.

Honson Chuol James, a spokesperson for the White Army, also said that the town was retaken without resistance, describing their withdrawal as tactical.

"We were just taking a tactical withdrawal," he said.

However, he reported that 17 people were killed during heavy bombardment in Thuluc.

The White Army is a militia largely made up of young Nuer men, and although it fought alongside Machar’s forces during the civil war, his party has denied any links to the recent clashes or the group’s actions in Nasir.

The political turmoil deepened earlier this month when Machar’s SPLM-IO party began to show signs of division.

One faction announced it had temporarily replaced him as chairman, while the military wing of the party insisted it remained loyal to the detained leader.

Meanwhile, the situation has drawn the attention of regional powers.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni visited President Kiir earlier this month, shortly after deploying Ugandan forces to help secure the capital, Juba.

Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who also serves as Uganda’s military chief, claimed that Ugandan troops have killed 1,500 White Army fighters since being deployed.