SPLM-IO MPs condemn SSPDF’s troop deployment plans in Nasir, Ulang counties

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By Matik Kueth

On Tuesday, Members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Parliamentary Caucus in the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA), condemned the SSPDF’s planned unilateral deployment of troops to Nasir and Ulang Counties, arguing that it constitutes a declaration of war against the residents in the two areas.

In a statement, Ding Lam, Secretary-General of the SPLM-IO Caucus and a representative of Ulang County in the NTLA, stated that such an action would undoubtedly shatter peaceful coexistence and worsen instability in the Upper Nile region.

“The SPLM/A-IO Parliamentary Caucus in the NTLA condemns in the strongest terms possible the unilateral SSPDF deployment that constitutes a declaration of war against the people of Nasir and Ulang counties. Such a senseless war shall rekindle the wounds that we are about to heal, heighten insecurity, fit communities against each other, rip the social fabric, disrupt peaceful coexistence, affect the general welfare of the people of Upper Nile, and push the Upper Nile State some thousand steps backwards.” Lam said.

He noted that the Nasir and Ulang communities do not reject the presence of military troops, but rather demand the deployment of unified forces as stipulated in the R-ARCSS.

“This planned deployment has been objected by the Nasir and Ulang communities, and their reasons are guided by the history of repeat confrontation between the armed youth and the SSPDF, which often results in unnecessary loss of life, destruction of properties, and displacement of people. The communities of Nasir are not against the deployment of any forces. Their problem is with the deployment that is not in accordance with the provisions of the Articles 2.1.3 and 2.1.4 of the R-ARCSS.” he stated.

The rumored deployment of the SSPDF to Nasir occurred on February 17, 2025, after the SSPDF and the armed youth in the area clashed, leaving four SSPDF soldiers dead and 13 civilians injured.

On February 19, 2025, the SSPDF dispatched two heavily armed military barges from Malakal to Nasir and Ulang Counties.

However, Lul Ruai Koang, Spokesperson of the SSPDF, in an interview with the King News, refuted that the government has no intentions of deploying troops in Nasir and Ulang Counties.

He stated that some forces were dispatched to Malakal and would be sent to Nasir to replace the current forces since soldiers in the area do not get along with the armed youth.

The SSPDF spokesman further reaffirmed that the soldiers are still in Malakal and have not yet been transported to Nasir.

The caucus called on President Salva Kiir to intervene and halt the military’s ongoing missions in Nasir.

They urged for a redeployment of unified forces, as stipulated in the R-ARCSS, to replace the current SSPDF presence in the area, emphasizing the necessity of integrated and unified forces rather than fragmented groups like Agwelek and Abushok.

The barges, armed with heavy weaponry and backed by two helicopter gunships, reportedly due to cross the receding waters of the Sobar River towards Nasir, sparking alarm among local leaders and civilians.

There are serious concerns about potential clashes that might arise from this deployment, as residents reported that a helicopter gunship stationed in Malakal launched offensive operations in Ulang County this morning (Tuesday), a development which Lam described as “very unfortunate.”