Armed opposition groups in South Sudan say they have captured a strategic army garrison in Western Equatoria State, intensifying tensions in a region already strained by conflict.
In a joint statement Wednesday, the National Salvation Front (NAS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) announced they had seized control of the Kadi’ba garrison in Mundri East County after a dawn attack.
The groups accused government forces of “continuous incursions, harassment, and looting of civilians,” saying their assault was a defensive response. They claimed 13 government soldiers were killed and weapons, including an armored personnel carrier, were captured.
A video circulating online showed fighters celebrating and displaying seized weapons, though the authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified.
Local authorities confirmed an attack took place but did not verify the opposition’s claims. “It is difficult to confirm casualties now, but we will release details after the fact-finding process,” Mundri East Commissioner John Henry Ngalamu said.
Western Equatoria State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Phillip Madut Tong called for an official investigation by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). The army’s spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
The attack highlights the fragile security environment as the 2018 peace agreement continues to falter. The SPLA-IO, formally led by First Vice President Riek Machar, is part of the transitional government, though Machar remains under house arrest in Juba. Meanwhile, NAS, led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo, rejected the peace deal outright.
The reported victory comes as Machar and several senior officials face trial in Juba on charges related to violence in Upper Nile earlier this year.
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