The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) announced on Tuesday that they had recovered four firearms after repelling a series of attacks by Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) forces at Wunkur. According to SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the recovered weapons included one PKM machine gun, an RPG-7 grenade launcher, and two AKM-47 assault rifles. The clashes occurred on October 3 and 4, 2026.
The SSPDF reported that the clashes began when SPLA-IO forces launched what it described as "sequenced attacks" on the national army's position at Wunkur. Gen. Koang stated that the attacks were repelled, resulting in 13 attackers killed and one captured. The captured fighter, who was wounded during the engagement, is expected to be airlifted to Juba for specialized medical treatment and further investigation.
The recovered firearms were seized from fighters killed during the clashes. Gen. Koang specified that the weapons included one PKM machine gun, an RPG-7 grenade launcher, and two AKM-47 assault rifles. The SSPDF claimed that all attacks were repelled, and the national army did not sustain any reported casualties.
The army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, provided details of the clashes, stating that SPLA-IO rebels launched sequenced attacks on the national army's position at Wunkur on October 3 and 4, 2026. The SSPDF reported that they successfully repelled the attacks, resulting in the recovery of the four firearms.
The captured fighter, who is wounded, will receive specialized medical treatment in Juba. The SSPDF did not disclose whether government forces sustained any casualties during the clashes. The exact location of Wunkur and the circumstances of the reported attacks were not provided.
The SSPDF's recovery of the firearms is seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict between the national army and the SPLA-IO forces. The clashes at Wunkur are part of a larger pattern of violence in the region. The SSPDF's efforts to secure the area and recover lost or stolen firearms are ongoing.
The incident highlights the continued tensions between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces in South Sudan. The national army's ability to repel the attacks and recover firearms demonstrates its military capabilities. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing clashes and reports of violence in various regions.
Key points
- The SSPDF recovered four firearms, including a PKM machine gun and RPG-7 grenade launcher, after repelling SPLA-IO attacks at Wunkur.
- The clashes resulted in 13 attackers killed and one captured, who is expected to receive specialized medical treatment in Juba.
- The incident highlights the continued tensions between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces in South Sudan.
