White Army claims major weapons seizure in Jikmir battle with SSPDF

NASIR – The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) affiliate militia, the White Army, have seized heavy weapons and vehicles from South Sudan’s national army following clashes in Jikmir Payam of Nasir County in Upper Nile State, the spokesperson claimed.

A press release dated 28 January 2026 and signed by Honson Chuol James from the White Army’s Pananyang headquarters, describes an early-morning battle involving White Army fighters and elements of the SPLA-IO against the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

According to the statement, SSPDF forces allegedly advanced from their positions in Buol, Nasir County, in the early hours of the morning.

“The genocidal and tribal forces of Gen. Kiir moved out from their trenches in Nasir’s Buol at 3:30 hours local time,” the statement reads, claiming they intended to attack SPLA-IO and allied forces based in Jikmir Payam.

The White Army spokesperson said the attacking forces were intercepted before reaching their target. “GangdorKiir’s task force and elements of the SPLA-IO unit intercepted them from Jikmir Payam’s centre, where they were engaged immediately,” the statement said.

It further alleged that SSPDF fighters were overwhelmed during the confrontation, claiming they were “swatted instantly with heavy casualties on their side,” citing over 20 government soldiers.

Chuol said White Army and SPLA-IO fighters seized multiple weapons and military assets after the battle, including two mounted pick-up Toyotas with 12.7mm, 1 Zu23-2 and trapped an APC (Armour personnel carrier/Wulit), 3 RPG-7 launchers, 2 PKM automatic machine guns, and 7 automatic rifles/AK-47, “all in good condition.”

The group also reported its own casualties, saying, “Our forces registered two losses and five wounds,” while alleging heavier losses on the government side. The statement claimed that fighters “found 23 SSPDF dead bodies with unspecified numbers of wounds on the enemy side.”

The White Army leadership in Ulang and Nasir concluded by congratulating their fighters and allied SPLA-IO units, saying they “hereby congratulate its battle-hardened fighters as well as the SPLA-IO fighters.”

Independent verification of the claims, including the reported casualties and seized equipment, remains unavailable, and SSPDF authorities had not issued an immediate response to the statement at the time of publication.