A South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) commander and a United Nations crew member were killed in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, after a UN helicopter came under fire during an evacuation mission on Friday morning.
The UN helicopter was deployed to evacuate SSPDF soldiers, including their commander, Gen. Majur Dak, who had been stranded in Nasir following clashes between the SSPDF and a local armed group known as the White Army. The evacuation was part of efforts to defuse tensions after recent fighting in the area.
The White Army, a loosely organized group of predominantly Nuer youth, had overrun Nasir earlier in the week, seizing control of the town’s military barracks.
The SSPDF has accused the SPLM-IO (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition) of orchestrating the conflict, a claim that has further strained relations between the two groups. Several senior SPLM-IO officials were arrested in Juba in connection with the allegations, complicating efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a White Army commander in Nasir, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the evacuation attempt had failed, with Gen. Majur being shot and killed during the operation. However, he did not provide further details.
Puok Both Baluang, spokesperson for First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, also confirmed the deaths of the SSPDF commander and the UN crew member. He stated that the evacuation process had been coordinated with local leaders, who had instructed the SSPDF soldiers to exit their armored vehicles upon the helicopter’s arrival.
“However, when Gen. Majur emerged from a military tank, SSPDF soldiers rushed toward the helicopter and opened fire, fearing they would be left behind. This prompted the White Army to respond, resulting in a fatal exchange of gunfire,” he explained.
Baluang added that the evacuation of wounded and deceased SSPDF soldiers from Nasir to Malakal was ongoing. He noted that some SPLM-IO officials working with the Nasir County commissioner had also sustained injuries during the incident.
“Also, several SPLA soldiers were killed in the exchange of gunfire during the evacuation process,” he said.
In a statement, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) confirmed that its helicopter had come under fire during the evacuation, resulting in the death of one crew member and serious injuries to two others. The mission also reported that several SSPDF members, including an injured general, were killed during the operation.
UNMISS emphasized that the evacuation had been conducted at the request of all parties involved and was part of broader efforts to prevent further violence and de-escalate political tensions in Nasir.
The mission condemned the attack on its personnel, describing it as “utterly abhorrent” and a potential war crime under international law.
Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, expressed deep regret over the loss of life and called for an investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
He urged all parties to refrain from further violence and for South Sudan’s leaders to intervene urgently to resolve tensions through dialogue.
The incident underscores the fragile security situation in South Sudan as the country prepares for its first post-independence elections, scheduled for December 2026. Despite the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war, political tensions remain high, and the integration of armed groups into a unified national army has proven challenging.