South Sudan army retakes Ulang after ‘tactical’ youth withdrawal

MALAKAL – South Sudan’s army said on Thursday its forces, with the assistance of allied local armed civilians, had regained control of Ulang town in Upper Nile state after the White Army withdrew.

The army’s retaking of the town comes less than a month after the White Army, an ethnic Nuer armed youth group, seized control of the Ulang County headquarters from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

Speaking to journalists in Malakal, the state capital, on Thursday afternoon, Major General Michael Majok, commander of the SSPDF’s 2nd Infantry Division in Malakal, stated that troops entered Ulang earlier in the day.

The senior SSPDF commander said the army’s advance was successful due to cooperation from local groups, as well as the central government and army headquarters in the capital Juba.

“We congratulate our forces on their glorious victories. This effort was a collective one, involving both the state government and the central government. This effort resulted in the victory of our leaders in the town of Ulang,” he said.

“We thank the people for their cooperation all along the way from Malakal to Ulang; there was a positive response from the citizens, and this was a great effort,” he added.

Majok emphasized that the SSPDF’s mandate is to protect the country and its people, welcoming anyone who stands with the army to protect the nation.

“We want every citizen of this nation to contribute to the stability of the region. We, the South Sudan Defense Forces, are part of the people, and we are tasked with protecting them, their achievements, and their property,” he said.

However, accounts from civilians, including members of the White Army, indicated that the takeover occurred without significant clashes. According to a White Army member, local armed youth strategically withdrew from the town.

“The local armed youth withdrew to the outskirts of the town for tactical reasons to reorganize. There is no basis for the claims by the SSPDF that they fought their way into Ulang County because even they were not well-armed and we did the withdrawal voluntarily,” he said.

“The government forces entered Ulang without resistance, and we have decided to regroup and reassess our next steps. This does not mean that Ulang has fallen and though they may plan in the meantime that they would go to Nasir, they are wrong. We are coming back for them,” he added.