The White Army, an armed group of Nuer youths, and SPLA-IO forces loyal to detained First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar are allegedly on the move to attack areas in Upper Nile State.
According to local authorities in Jonglei State’s Ayod County, the combined belligerent force currently stationed in Ayod’s Mogog Village and parts of Pigi County is under the leadership of a popular Nuer spiritual leader, Makuach Tut Khor.
This latest report emerged barely days after officials and residents in Pigi sounded an alarm of looming attacks by SPLA-IO and White Army forces, who they say have been regrouping.
The White Army and SPLA-IO have been fighting off recurrent attacks from the SSPDF and its allied militias in parts of the Upper Nile region since the beginning of the year.
The fighting, which started in Upper Nile State’s Nasir Town in February, quickly escalated and spread to other areas and took on a political dimension following the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar and some of his top military and political aides.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday night, James Chuol Jiek, the Ayod County commissioner, said Spiritualist Makuach Tut has been mobilizing youth for over a month to wage a war and that his several attempts at de-escalation have been futile, as the spiritualist decided to finally march to Upper Nile State.
“I had to cancel my mission in Juba to return to Ayod on 31 July 2025 because it was being reported that Makuach Tut was mobilizing youth. He was initially based in Ayod’s Canal area, and he promised that he did not intend to fight,” he explained. “However, his mobilization continued, and he moved to the Pagoang area, Jiesh, Pajiek, and now he is in Mogog.”
“Today, he met someone called Michael Nying Gatmai, who was recently appointed as opposition commissioner by SPLM-IO Deputy Chairman Oyet Nathaniel, but the resolution of their meeting is unclear. What is obvious is that he has mobilized youth, and they are ready to fight,” Commissioner Chuol added.
Chuol condemned Makuach’s move and said he was unable to stop him.
“I sent him 12 delegations over a month, but he only lies about his intentions. He recently made it clear to one of my delegation leaders, called Tut Kuer, that he will only be stopped by the release of Riek Machar,” he revealed. “I am convinced that he is ready to attack, but he is still far from Pigi because he will first have to go to areas of Pagil and Nornyang.”
Attempts to contact Ayod SSPDF Commander John Maluet and Makuach Tut were futile.
Mathew Matiok Lem, an MP representing Pigi County in the state legislative assembly, also said an attack is imminent.
“Khorwai in Pigi is one of the SPLA-IO’s largest bases,” he said. “Three days ago, we learnt that Makuach Tut sent one of his commanders to Khorwai on a reconnaissance mission, and as soon as they evaluate their combat readiness, they may or may not attack.”
Civil society activist and executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Ter Manyang, urged the government to engage in meaningful dialogue, saying any escalation will deteriorate the already fragile peace.
“There is a need for the government to engage in a meaningful dialogue with Makuach Tut. Over the past two days, I have been personally engaged as a civil society activist reaching out to Gawar Nuer influential leaders both in Juba and Ayod,” he said. “However, some, especially those from Machar’s SPLM-IO, are not ready to open up because they fear being arrested. So, the government needs to open up civic space and dialogue. War with Makuach will not be good for our country.”