By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) has accused South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) of attacking its cantonment site in Western Equatoria State last week.
SPLA-IO Spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel stated that before the attack, SSPDF forces moved and positioned themselves near the SPLA-IO site.
The SPLA-IO command requested their withdrawal to prevent potential clashes, but despite this, they were subsequently attacked.
Col. Paul claimed the February 12th attack was orchestrated by commanders of Division 6 in Western Equatoria State at the Regrangu cantonment site.
This forced SPLA-IO forces to tactically withdraw to a safer location without any casualties or injuries, he said.
Following the attack, SPLA-IO forces reportedly abandoned the training center for fear of further attacks and property destruction.
Col. Paul noted that SSPDF soldiers denied involvement in the clashes, attributing the clashes to tribal conflict between the Azande and Balanda communities.
However, he claimed a video taken at the cantonment site shows senior SSPDF commanders and their bodyguards celebrating the capture of the Regrangu site.
In addition to the attack on the SPLA-IO base, Col. Paul further accused the SSPDF of continuing to expand its operational territory by dismantling SPLA-IO assembly areas in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal, claiming to be removing illegal checkpoints.
“The attack started around Kobribu Bauo areas to Ngolamba, in Western Bahr el Ghazal, and proceeded up to Jur River. This is a complete violation of the agreement. It should be noted that the SPLA-IO did not refuse to close down the so-called illegal checkpoints,” Col. Paul said.
He noted that during the 8th Governors’ Forum in Juba last year, governors from the 10 states and three administrative areas called for the closure of illegal checkpoints to reduce illegal taxation of traders, following numerous complaints.
However, the SPLA-IO spokesperson accused the SSPDF of implementing resolutions from the 8th Governors’ Forum without consulting the SPLA-IO high command on the modalities for closing these checkpoints.
“The resolution on the checkpoints was very clear, but we need to understand the kinds of checkpoints that are there in this country,” Col. Paul explained.
“Some checkpoints are solely for security purposes, and some, even if for security purposes, involve some taxation. There was no consensus reached on the modalities. Ideally, checkpoints in our areas of operation are our mandate to remove, not the SSPDF,” he added.
He further argued that while the 2018 peace agreement calls for the unification and deployment of forces, its implementation has been slow, leaving many SPLA-IO forces in cantonment sites or assembly areas.
He asserted that the agreement does not give the SSPDF unilateral authority to dictate terms in SPLA-IO-controlled areas.
Col. Paul urged the SSPDF to cease hostilities and focus on implementing the peace agreement.
However, when contacted for a comment, Army Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lual Raui Koang denied the allegation.
He stated that the statement made by the SPLA-IO was a counter-statement to the media briefing he conducted last week.
On Friday last week, the army spokesperson denied claims that clashes in the Western Equatoria State were not politically motivated and did not involve the SSPDF but only the armies were implementing directives on crackdown of the checkpoints along the identified routes.