![Child soldiers listen to a speech after being released from a group called the Cobra Faction and from the main SPLA/IO rebel faction during a ceremony in Tenet, near Pibor, on October 26, 2016. [Photo by AFP PHOTO/Charles Atiki Lomodong]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/8D2E5557-58CD-4FC0-B646-1873E48C4825.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&quality=89&ssl=1)
The clashes erupted on Tuesday when the White Army launched an offensive, capturing the SSPDF military base and gaining control of the town.
The stranded soldiers, including their commanding officer, are reportedly trapped inside armored vehicles and tanks within the seized compound.
“The situation is critical, and the soldiers are unable to move,” a source familiar with the operation revealed. “A UN aircraft will be used to evacuate them, with priority given to those injured in the fighting.”
The evacuation plan was reportedly brokered through negotiations involving SSPDF Brigadier Majur Manyok, local officials, and representatives of the White Army.
A second source confirmed that the agreement permits the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to conduct the evacuation in phases, with the first group of soldiers expected to depart on Wednesday evening.
“The UNMISS aircraft will transport approximately 19 personnel per flight, with the total number of evacuees estimated at 38,” the source added.
The SSPDF has yet to issue an official statement regarding the evacuation. Repeated attempts to contact army spokesperson Major Lul Ruai Koang for comment were unsuccessful.
The recent violence in Nasir, a town near the Ethiopian border, highlights the ongoing instability in South Sudan.
The White Army has consistently opposed the presence of government forces in the region, and tensions have escalated following the government’s announcement of plans to replace existing SSPDF units.
This move has sparked concerns among local communities about potential disarmament efforts or civilian targeting.
