Well-placed sources have confirmed that SPLA is in contact with militia outside of Bor town at the current time. Fighting is ongoing.
The militia is thought to be a combination of armed Lou Nuer youth, which is known as the White Army, and militia loyal to Major General Peter Gadet, who defected from the SPLA on December 16th.
Its not known if Gadet is in direct command of the militia force.
In the meantime, Uganda President Yoweri Musevni took the opportunity during visit to Juba to threaten intervention if forces loyal to former Vice President Riak Machar contimued fighting.
“We gave Riek Machar four days to respond, and if he doesn't we shall have to go for him, all of us — that is what we agreed in Nairobi,” said Musevni referring to a previous meeting attended by the heads of state including Kenya and Ethiopia.
While Uganda has only confirmed the presence of its troops to “evacuate nationals”, there have been numerous confirmed sightings of U.P.D.F soldiers and military assets, including armed aircraft, in several locations around South Sudan.
Forces loyal to South Sudan’s former VP Riak Machar have said U.P.D.F planes, specifically MiG-29 Fighter jets, bombed them.Uganda denies the allegation.
Mr. Museveni and Mr. Kiir have maintained close ties for several years.
The Uganda People’s Defense Force provided significant support to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army during the civil war against the Sudanese government in Khartoum.
Prior to South Sudanese independence, Uganda assisted the SPLA with arms and other support. The SPLA, in turn, supported Uganda’s war against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) by allowing U.P.D.F forces to log teak forests in order to finance its own operations against LRA leader and self-proclaimed prophet Joseph Kony.
