BREAKING: SPLA-IO commander killed in attack on cantonment site in East Equatoria

JUBA –  A senior South Sudan main armed opposition commander has been killed following an attack on Monday by unidentified armed men on Lowereng cantonment site in the country’s Eastern Equatoria state, according to an opposition spokesman.

Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel, the deputy SPLA-IO spokesman and press secretary for the minister of defense said the attack occurred during the early hours of Monday when unknown gunmen stormed opposition base in Kapoeta South county.

Lam who is in Juba said the attack led to the killing of the base commander along with five other soldiers describing it as a violation of the permanent ceasefire agreement.

“ON 22/03/2021 in the morning hours, the SPLA-IO cantonment site of Lowereng was attacked and burned down. This surprised attack led to the lost of five SPLA-IO soldiers including the commander of the cantonment site,” he said.

“Much as the attackers are yet unknown,  this attack  amounts to violations of the permanent ceasefire that needs to be investigated,” he added.

The senior opposition officer further urged the Joint Defense Board (JDB) to dive in and investigate the attack and reiterated the group’s commitment to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The SPLA-IO calls upon the JDB and CTSAMVM to investigate this aggression and bring those responsible to books,” he said.

“The SPLA-IO remains committed to the implementation of the Security Arrangements but has the right to self defense,” he added.