By Yiep Joseph
The Acting spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), Col. Garang Ateny Alier, claimed the capture of two SPLM-IO generals in Longechuk County of Upper Nile.
Speaking to this outlet, Ateny claimed that the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) consecutively attacked Mathiang barracks in an attempt to capture, but failed.
Despite several attacks on government barracks, according to Ateny, the SSPDF continues to act in self-defence.
“The SSPDF always remains in self-defence because we respect the agreement that we should not fight with our brothers in the SPLA-IO, but they always violate the agreement; they carried out an attack on 1st September, which is yesterday morning.” Ateny claimed
He said that within three consecutive attacks on the SSPDF barrack top, rebel leaders were captured.
“They (SPLM-IO) attacked our barracks and they were chased away by the SSPDF second division, who are there in Mathiang.” Ateny said.
When asked about the casualties, he confirmed but declined to specify the numbers from both sides.
Ateny revealed that the SSPDF captured the SPLA-IO’s top two commanders during the clashes.
“The SSPDF during that fight managed to capture their (SPLA-IO) two commanders who were actually leading the attack on our SSPDF position” he said.
Ateny called on the SPLA-IO forces to denounce violence.
He added that the SSPDF continues to respect the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of the peace agreement in its totality.
Col. Ateny blamed the SPLA-IO forces for always attacking their barracks despite several calls for dialogue.
He refuted the allegations that SSPDF forces were dislodged from the barrack by the opposition.
Col Garang called on the members of the public to stop being fed with social media propaganda regarding the ongoing conflict in some part of the country.
Recently the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) clashed in Longechuk, Upper Nile State, and played blame games.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the spokesperson of the SPLA-IO, claimed that the SSPDF attacked their barracks while Ateny from the SSPDF maintained his current position.