A combined force of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and Agwelek has captured New Fangak, also known as Phom, in Fangak County of Jonglei State from the White Army and SPLA-IO forces, an operations commander said.
Fangak County, recently classified by the South Sudanese government as hostile, is located in the northwestern corner of Jonglei State. It borders Ayod to the south, Pigi to the east, Panyikang in Upper Nile State to the northeast, Pariang in the Ruweng Administrative Area to the northwest, and Guit and Koch in Unity State to the west.
Maj. Gen. Paromi Angui, commander of military operations in Fangak County, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday evening that government-aligned forces seized New Fangak this afternoon after clashes with the White Army and SPLA-IO.
“I am now in Phom or New Fangak. We entered Fangak County on Monday evening. I am currently speaking from New Fangak and also chased them away from the Alel area, which is about an hour’s walk south of Fangak,” he said.
When asked about casualties, Gen. Paromi, who also serves as deputy commander of the Agwelek militia, said, “We don’t have many losses—only one soldier was killed, and the injured are few. It is the other side that suffered heavy losses.”
Agwelek forces have been partially integrated into the SSPDF, with their leader, Gen. Johnson Olony, appointed by President Salva Kiir in January as assistant chief of defense forces for mobilization and disarmament. Gen. Paromi was also integrated into the SSPDF.
Olony, who returned from rebel-held territory in May 2023, signed a peace agreement with Kiir in January 2022, which included provisions for integrating his forces into the national army.
Gen. Paromi said New Fangak had been used by rebels to mobilize against the government. When asked about civilians in the area, he said most had fled during the fighting.
“Those fighting in New Fangak were forces loyal to Riek Machar. We have captured two of their fighters, and the civilians fled with them. As a government, we have no issue with unarmed civilians,” he said.
He urged civilians to return home, vowing to continue pursuing SPLA-IO and White Army forces across Fangak County.
Regarding clashes in Diel, an SPLA-IO stronghold, Gen. Paromi said, “We dislodged them yesterday from Diel, where we fought them before moving to New Fangak. After leaving Atar, we reached Diel, and they fled. We found they had set up multiple checkpoints. We have now closed 11 illegal checkpoints between New Fangak and Atar.”
When asked if government forces planned to advance toward Old Fangak—where a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital was recently bombed—he said, “I cannot disclose our next move, but you will hear about it. We urge citizens not to be misled by politicians.”
Multiple sources in Fangak confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that New Fangak had fallen to SSPDF and Agwelek forces, with airstrikes and barges supporting the operation. Earlier today, an Agwelek fighter filmed himself in New Fangak to document its capture. Several houses were seen burning in New Fangak after its capture.
SPLA-IO spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel and White Army leaders in the area could not immediately be reached for comment.