By Matik Kueth
South Sudan’s government has dismissed reports alleging that it deployed troops in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
This came after some media outlets reported that the SSPDF had deployed about 1,000 troops to Nasir following armed youth and government forces clashed on February 14, 2025, for disarmament efforts.
In an exclusive interview with King Media on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) Spokesperson, refuted the claims, labeling them “incorrect” information.
He revealed that some forces had been sent to Malakal and will be moved to Nasir in order to replace the current forces, since it is evident that they do not get along with the armed youth in the area.
“No, it is inaccurate. The correct report is that we have been taking forces to Malakal, we have been assembling them in Malakal, so that they are taken to Nasir to relieve their colleague that have been there for a very long time. We have not yet deployed even a single soldier in Nasir. Those who have been there are the ones that have been there. But we are preparing to relieve them. It is incorrect, we have not deployed them.” Maj. Gen. Ruai said.
According to Ruai, all forces transferred from Juba were stationed in Malakal with the intention of de-escalating the violence between the armed forces and armed youth.
“The ones that are there are there. We have been assembling forces in Malakal with the intention of taking them to Nasser to relieve their colleagues.” he stated.
The fighting occurred between armed youth and the SSPDF in Nasir on February 15, 2025, killing four SSPDF officers and injuring ten civilians. The fighting was reportedly renewed Saturday morning, February 16, 2025.