By Chol D. Johnson and Yiep Joseph
Fresh clashes emerged in Longechuk County in Upper Nile State despite peace efforts by the region.
The South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) confirmed the clashes and continue with blame games.
In an exclusive interview with this outlet, Col. Garang Ateny Alier, the Acting SSPDF spokesperson blamed the SPLA-IO for attacking their base in Longechuk.
Garang said that their forces were on self-defence after being surprisingly attacked by the Opposition forces in Upper Nile.
“As SSPDF, we do not move from our barracks; it is SPLA-IO who always organized their forces to attack our positions.” Ateny said,
“We (SSPDF) are respecting the ceasefire, but the SPLA-IO continues to attack our barracks in most areas,” he added.
He confirmed the clashes in Upper Nile State but blamed the SPLA-IO.
“What happened in Longechuk is a clear violation; they (SPLA-IO) came and attacked our soldiers who were in the barracks,” he said.
However, Ateny did not disclose the casualties during the clashes.
The Acting spokesperson said that the SSPDF defended their barracks and remain committed to the ceasefire as stated in the peace agreement.
He blamed the SPLA-IO for the violation and called on peace monitors to intervene and engage the SPLA-IO to stop hostilities.
However, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the spokesperson of the SPLA-IO, claimed that the SSPDF attacked their barrack.
“This morning at 0800 hours the SPLA-IO intercepted an attacking force of the SSPDF outside Mathiang, leading to the ongoing clashes that have now reached Mathiang town in Longechuk County,” Paul said in a statement.
He admitted in the statement that the SPLA-IO forces fought alongside the army youth.
Paul claimed that the SSPDF also launched an attack on their base in Lainya County of Central Equatoria.
“In separate incidents yesterday, August 27, SPLA-IO forces reportedly repelled two coordinated SSPDF attacks in Jamara Saba and Limuro in Lainya County” he said.
The SSPDF and SPLA-IO continue in confrontations and accusations despite several calls from activists, peace monitors, and the whole toward respect for the 2018 peace agreement.