South Sudan Army Recaptures Nasir Amid Political Crisis

South Sudan's military has recaptured the strategic town of Nasir in Upper Nile State, months after it was seized by the ethnic Nuer White Army militia, an event that intensified the nation's political crisis and led to the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar. Machar’s detention, over accusations of supporting the militia, has heightened fears of renewed ethnic violence and drawn international concern about the stability of the fragile power-sharing government established after the 2018 peace deal. Both government and White Army representatives confirmed the town was retaken without resistance, though 17 people were reportedly killed during bombardments in the nearby village of Thuluc. Uganda has increased its involvement, with President Museveni deploying troops to stabilize the capital and military officials claiming to have killed 1,500 White Army fighters. Meanwhile, Machar’s SPLM-IO party is showing signs of internal division, with some factions attempting to replace him while others remain loyal. The developments underscore the ongoing volatility and risk of further fragmentation within South Sudan’s political landscape.