2025 Nasir clashes

Nasir clashes
Part of the aftermath of the South Sudanese Civil War
Date3 March – 20 April 2025
(1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Nasir, Nasir County, South Sudan
08°36′25″N 33°02′38″E / 8.60694°N 33.04389°E / 8.60694; 33.04389
Result SSPDF evacuates Nasir
Belligerents
Nuer White Army South Sudan
Uganda (9 March–1 April)
UNMISS
Commanders and leaders
Ter Chuol Gatkuoth Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak  Nicholas Haysom
Lt. General Mohan Subramanian
Casualties and losses
more than 40 killed
77 wounded
257 killed
16 wounded
1 helicopter crew member killed, 2 wounded
50,000 people displaced

Clashes broke out in the South Sudanese town of Nasir between members of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Nuer White Army on 3 March 2025. Tensions between the town's garrison and local forces, heightened by the arrival of government-backed militia, led the White Army to overrun the army barracks. During an attempt to evacuate the remaining SSPDF troops, helicopters belonging to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan came under fire, resulting in significant casualties.

In response, the government of South Sudan and Ugandan forces conducted airstrikes on villages in Nasir, Longechuk, and Ulang counties. With the cooperation of local leaders, the SSPDF peacefully retook Nasir on 20 April 2025.

The clashes have had major political consequences, leading to arrest of dozens of politicians affiliated with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO)—which the government accuses of supporting the Nuer White Army—and raised concerns that the country might return to civil war. The First Vice President of South Sudan and leader of the SPLA-IO, Riek Machar, was stripped of his authority and placed on trial due to charges relating to the clashes.