By Dr. Sunday de John
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. I am a worried man. I am deeply concerned about the direction my country has taken. South Sudan is relapsing into war again and the path of this war is detrimental to the growth of younger generations. Our country is war-ravaged as we all know and is the third most troubled country in the world, after Syria and Afghanistan, in the refugee crisis severity. The events in the Upper Nile State serve as clear indicators that the country is once again sliding into severe conflict, following the Nasir incident that resulted in the destruction of an infantry brigade and the death of the decorated Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak. The Nasir conflict has ensnared the country in a cycle of violence, whether instigated by those who profit from war or arising spontaneously and it has caused widespread suffering and instability. We must condemn it at all costs.
This morning, I read the remarks made to the United Nations Security Council on April 16, 2025, by Mr. Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). His statements underscored several factual occurrences indicating that the country is experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis and that the war is ongoing. He emphasized that the situation necessitates an immediate joint effort from both national and international groups to halt the fighting, uphold the Revitalized Agreement, and take necessary actions to break the persistent cycles of incomplete transitions.
His address also underscored that, in collaboration with the African Union Peace and Security Council, the Panel of the Wise, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the R-JMEC, His Holiness Pope Francis, the United Nations Secretary-General, and the UNSC, they are engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to broker a peaceful solution.
These attempts by international actors are commendable; they demonstrate that the world is genuinely concerned about the challenges facing the Republic of South Sudan and the plight of its beloved people. However, our efforts toward peace remain unclear and lack strength. We must address our issues with sincerity.
The agreement that will end the conflict in South Sudan will one day come not as a package to the leaders but as a framework that satisfies the citizens and one that they will recognize as legitimate and binding. Indeed, we are the ones who will discover the most effective solution to our problems. President Salva Kiir Mayardit has asserted that there will be no national war, yet subnational conflict continues to persist. The ongoing subnational conflict could not have originated from him; perhaps those who profit from war are at work. Nevertheless, the head of state and government should take crack a whip on the heads of those who profit from war and instigate it.
The aggressiveness exhibited by the White Army may stem from an undiagnosed powerful trigger. This behavior began before the arrest of Dr. Riek Machar, and they have since been engaged in intense battles with the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) and other groups. Their ongoing engagement with the national army in fierce armed conflict across various parts of the country, including Ulang, Nasir, and Jekow in Maiwut County, serves no purpose. These actions are detrimental to both the nation and the individuals involved.
A military showdown intended to demonstrate the White Army’s superiority over the national army is unwise. South Sudan should not have multiple military forces competing against one another. Claims that the White Army functions as a Naath Defense Force (NDF) are reprehensible. The Naath people are citizens of South Sudan, and all the territories they inhabit are part of South Sudan; the sole defender of South Sudan’s territory is the SSPDF.
The White Army should disengage from unnecessary conflict. The young people involved must not die simply to prove a point. Let the lawmakers use legal channels to hold the SSPDF accountable for their wrongdoings if they have perpetrated any. The White Army ought to acknowledge that the national armed forces have a constitutional mandate; they are the protectors of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Preventing them from accessing certain areas in the country is unacceptable. Allow the SSPDF to return to their barracks everywhere and stop the destruction of young lives, innocent civilians, and the national fabric.
It has been repeatedly stated that the White Army is not under the command of Dr. Riek Machar and that it is a spontaneous force led by its local leaders. This assertion appears contradictory, as the members of the White Army themselves are calling for the deployment of unified forces to Nasir and other areas. This call suggests a political element. Furthermore, it is evident that the White Army does not heed the authority of Dr. Riek Machar, as demonstrated during the extraction of the late Gen. Majur Dak when they attacked those evacuating the general and the UNMISS helicopter. The government of the Republic of South Sudan, particularly the security sector, should critically examine these inconsistent points.
Could Dr. Riek be serving as a scapegoat for the actions of the White Army that he did not authorize? Is the White Army still under his command, as was the case in 2013 and 2016? Could he and the White Army be acting in a unified manner while conveying contradictory messages? Is the White Army dissatisfied with him, particularly after he chose to appoint members of his inner circle to positions in the R-TGoNU?
I am asking these questions not to upset or offend anyone. I want to press a point that any guilty party should be held responsible and penalize in accordance with law. As citizens of South Sudan, we need peace, and the peace we seek is not a peace agreement that benefits only leaders while neglecting the needs and concerns of the general population. Agreements of that nature are not always effective or sustainable. They generate resentment, instability, and renewed cycles of conflict. The owners of peace packages could be draining the blood of innocent people with their cycles of peace agreements.
Having said that, we must engage in dialogue to address the concerns of the White Army or any other faction. I believe that the military defeat of the White Army, or the SSPDF, will not benefit the nation or the warring factions themselves. The result could be disastrous and undermine the national cohesion we desire as a nation.
Source: Radio Tamazuj
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