SPLA-IO forces say they have seized the town of Waat in Jonglei State after intense fighting with government troops. The opposition group announced it overran the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) garrison in Waat, the headquarters of Nyirol County, on Wednesday morning.
The SPLA-IO posted videos on social media appearing to show its fighters celebrating beside captured military equipment.
Opposition officials said the capture of Waat—described as an SSPDF stronghold in the Lou Nuer area—was triggered by government attacks on their positions.
Lt. Col. Khor Nyang Mabor, an SPLA-IO spokesperson in Jonglei State, told Radio Tamazuj that SSPDF forces attacked their base on Tuesday while local officials were attending a cultural gathering in Weideng.
“This morning, the government forces again attacked our headquarters in Panyim,” he said. “As a result of these attacks, our forces pursued the SSPDF to Waat, overrunning it.”
He claimed that SPLA-IO forces captured three military tanks and 51 assault rifles, and killed 37 government soldiers while losing one of their own.
Peter Gatkuoth Koang, the SPLA-IO-appointed commissioner for Nyirol County, said he was the target of the initial attack on Tuesday. He stated that after repulsing it, his forces warned civilians to leave Waat before launching a counter-attack on Wednesday.
“We attacked and overran the SSPDF headquarters with all firearms still intact,” he said, claiming to be speaking from inside the captured garrison.
He said his forces captured the SSPDF garrison commander, Brig. Gen. Kuot Atem, and that five government soldiers were killed.
Both officials said their forces were pursuing retreating government troops and that the situation remained tense, with ongoing bombardments reported in nearby areas.
The SSPDF has not yet commented on the reports.
Majiok Chop, the director of information in neighbouring Uror County, said heavy gunfire was heard from Waat early on Wednesday and that the area had been taken over by SPLA-IO fighters. He dismissed separate reports of an airstrike in his county.
The SPLA-IO, led by First Vice-President Riek Machar, is a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war. However, sporadic clashes between signatory groups have continued in parts of the country, including Jonglei State.