

South Sudan: South Sudan Civil Society Forum (SSCSF) – South Sudan Civil Society Forum Condemns the Recent Surege in Violence across the Country and Calls for Urgent Action (07.03.2025)






“We are manufacturing attack, reconnaissance, and suicide drones. We have to be ready for war. In 1935 our fathers were not ready like they were in Adwa and we can’t make the same mistake” – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (08.03.2025).
The latest launch of a drone factory in Addis Ababa should be telling. As the man, the myth and the legend himself Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali is makign all of this splash for “defence” of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Alas, that’s wherein lays the main objection to that.
Very rarely it is mass production of weaponry or military devices only for defence or deterrence. It is foolish to think these will be lingering in storage units or be in a military cargo-bay awaiting next usage or destination. No, these drones and military technology will be used in conflict.
Not like Prime Minister Abiy is swaying away from conflict or war. No, he has participated in several and continues to use the army to consolidate power within the Republic. This man orders the army for “final campaigns” in regions all the time. The PM easily makes way for violence and usage of lethal force against civilians. He don’t mind death and see that as a way of growing more trees. So, this man don’t mind the blood and the loss of life. No, that is just what he does and he wants to rule over the ashes.
Prime Minister Abiy could easily be seeking a new conflict and a new war. Even when his never ending war in Oromia or the continued humiliation in Amhara. The restructured army and the reigning in of Regional Special Forces wasn’t helping either. He doesn’t have the ability or the capacity to compete with Fano or OLA. That is shown with time, as these are combating his troops and are able to return time and time again. This just shows that the FDRE and the National Army struggles to combat these militias and the guerrilla warfare. That is outplaying them and they lack strategical means and wits to beat it.
That’s why the latest rumours and spin of the mill to attack Shabia or Eritrea is foolish. For an army that isn’t capable of fighting Fano is now seeking to defeat and conquer the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF). An EDF that was the additional forces that made the invasion and the attacks within the Tigray region possible. The tripartite alliance was the reason for the successes and way it broke down the Tigray Defence Force (TDF).
Now after that and the unimplemented Pretoria Agreement. The speculations of sparring conflict brothers has come up again. As the fallout between Isaias Afewerki and Abiy Ahmed Ali. They aren’t on talking terms or even as close as they were not to long ago. The Pretoria Agreement damaged the alliance and deleted the war-pact between Addis Ababa and Asmara to annihilate Tigray. That’s how it all seems and they downplay it whatever way they want. However, right now things are changing.
We know the FDRE has a lust and a vivid imagination of owning and ceasing a port. They want to end the era of being landlocked and have some territories by the sea. That means they got to either annex it or buy it. The PM has tried to so in Somaliland, but failed and later had to go on forgive me tour to Mogadishu. Now that this has entered a new “status quo”. The PM and his allies has looked elsewhere. Djibouti isn’t possible as they are commercially viable, but has to much of foreign army bases to interject. That means the last escape and way out of the quagmire is to invade and attack Eritrea to get Assab. Nevertheless, that is a fever dream and a brutal nightmare.
Another conflict and another logistical war won’t help the PM. Not in the shambles the nation is in and currently undergoing. Not like the FDRE is in a level of strength and has the abilities to be involved in another conflict. The army is already pushing its levels and isn’t even able internally to silencing the guns. How would the same army be able to do so in Eritrea and stop them from taking them down or even be able advance across their borders?
It is hard to believe the FDRE would dare to do this. That Abiy would risk it all and for a shallow dream. A dream of an empire and the need for a port. To lose everything and be utterly destroyed doing so. There is nothing to gain and only more death. It won’t be no victory marshes or even fanfare. No, only more shallow graves and more lives taken. That will happen on both sides of the conflict and so much hurt.
Prime Minister Abiy is just showcasing yet again who he is. His a warlord and his thirst is endless. That’s all there is to say. Not like the brutal dictator of Eritrea needs any defence. No, he has his own merits to write in glory, but this would be an epic failure and a miscalculation that would destroy Abiy.
A war that he cannot return from and the vengeance against him will be complete. They will not relent and there will be no peace until his final end. That we know, if he dares to challenge Eritrea. They won’t take it lightly and they will fight. Another fight between brothers. It is a reason why Eritrea never has left Badme and not intend too. They see it as their own and if Ethiopia think they can take Assab. Just imagine how they have fought over Badme. Just know that this will be bloody and there will be no rest. Peace.






Today’s actions surrounding the evacuation flight from Nasir County, as the UNMISS helicopter was helping fellow SSPDF soldiers and UN Personnel to leave the area. That was surrounded by the White Army and gun-shots ended up killing Gen. David Majur Dak, and others who was around the helicopter.
That act of killing, brutal actions of possibly ambushing and targeting that helicopter can be fatal for the Naath White Army. As it isn’t about grievances against the state anymore or about sending wrong type of troops to the Nasir County in the Upper Nile State. Now it is total conflict and giving the state all reasons to ruthlessly end the White Army. As it couldn’t ensure the safety or guarantee the UNMISS helicopter safe-haven for transit before leaving again for Malakal. As the helicopter had done so in the day before and was planned to do similar today.
Alas, that didn’t happen. Now there is several dead, including the General Dak. What happened in Wech-Yar-Adiu, Nasir County is telling. It is a statement from the Naath White Army. There are even speculations that the White Army itself did pull the General out of the Helicopter and killed in him in cold blood. Meanwhile the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar is saying it was accidental gunfiring surrounding the helicopter. As a skirmish going wrong and that’s what the White Army claims as well. However, we cannot know and all parties have interests in telling their stories. Where the truth is and the brutal demise of the General are… that we don’t know, but what we do know is that he was killed.
If J1 and President Salva Kiir Mayardit issues “Martial Law” or something similar in the Upper Nile State. No one should bat an eye. The Naath White Army is a national threat and has capacity to cause harm. It isn’t just a minor issue, but an issue that can spiral into much more severe conflict. The killings of a General is just telling. This is what they are daring to do… and now the White Army possibly have to face the music. It isn’t all fun and games, but a reality that might be painful for them too.
President Kiir called for “restrained” and calm for “peace” but we know that won’t be enough. There is so much hurt and pain. Not only what happened to the General, but others and also the other flight, which also appeared to have killed more people. It is just a totality of bloody murder and the Naath White Army claim it is “crossfire”. I’m not buying that… it is just to convenient.
All hunches and everything within me says this was a deliberate act of killing. The General and his guards was targets with invisible marks on their heads. The White Army planned this and wanted him dead. That’s why this happened and they knew where he was residing. Therefore, the crossfire doesn’t feel believable to me. Until this is properly investigated and such. There will be speculations and rumours circulating. That is natural.
Nevertheless, the General’s demise isn’t the end. Now another chapter begins. The state and the White Army got to act. There is a need for resolve and talks. Now this cannot go back to the battlefields and be addressed by usage of guns. That won’t lead to a finalization or a resolute decision. No, there is a need for mediation and such, as the deaths are piling up.
Now the debts has to be settled. There is a need for listening on both sides. J1 and Naath White Army needs to find each other. This cannot continue.
Nasir Town, Nasir County and the whole Upper Nile State needs an intervention. Which cannot be solved by guns. The guns has just caused more harm, pain and suffering. The assassination of the General is just the final straw. Now there is no turning back, a man trying to fix a safe passage for himself and others was killed. These lives have to be held account for and the ones behind it has to answer for it. There is no other way around it.
This is just tragic and the White Army should regret doing this. Now there isn’t sympathy or understanding for their cause, instead it is anger and frustration that they did this. Their credit is up and now is time to pay their debt. Peace.






