




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.












There are reports of heavy military deployment of the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) surrounding the home of First Vice President and SPLM/A-(IO) leader Dr. Riek Machar.
There are reports of troops, tanks and artillery-armoured vehicles who are now surrounding the home of Dr. Riek Machar. All of this doesn’t sound like a man who has freedom or allowed to leave his home.
This isn’t the first time that Dr. Riek Machar is feeling the pinch. He has been here before and this isn’t new to him. His silence is worrying though. There is no news from the SPLM/A-IO and no official statement from the party who is targeted and neither any sort of press release telling what is going at the residence of Machar.
The silence is worrying. The SPLM/A-(IO) are a part of the R-ARCSS and SPLM-IG is playing with fire here. The President can come with a humble message and call Machar a brother, but his arresting his associates, and claiming they are a part of the White Army or the insurgency in the Upper Nile state. Which is the reason why we are here and the claims of J1 and R-TGoNU isn’t clever. When the White Army states their associations and where they are coming from, which isn’t fitting the narratives parroted from Juba.
If Dr. Riek Machar is under house arrest. Then there are real ramifications of the R-ARCSS and the agreements of which the government are built upon. The other arrests of IO High Ranking Officials are troubling enough. The knowledge of a possibility of a house arrest is telling.
We are living in uncertainty, and it becomes this dire when the state isn’t institutionalized, but personalized. This is the failure of the J1 and the ones who hasn’t implemented the R-ARCSS within the time limits. They have postponed and postponed… and made it so painful. The government could have acted and planned a way ahead.
The FVP should make noise. He needs to be heard. Especially, if it is true. He needs to speak and release a letter at least. The concerns are out there, and the President cannot think anyone will accept this. The state has failed and that is why the White Army is existing. That isn’t Machar or IO fault, it is the whole government’s fault. Therefore, it is time to act and not vilify the IO. That game is getting old… and we don’t have to repeat old sins. Peace.