Kiir’s Tiger battalion ‘intimidating’ Machar, says IO

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has officially confirmed heavy deployment of security forces around the first vice president’s residence .

Yesterday night, eyewitnesses told Sudans Post that a joint force of South Sudan National Security (NSS) and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) was deployed to the area adjacent to Machar’s residence raising fears of escalation among the key peace partners.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, senior SPLM-IO security official in Juba said the Tiger battalion of President Kiir was the army division that was said yesterday to be deployed along the airport road leading to the first vice president’s residence.

“Yesterday, we have been having all these news that the First Vice President’s residence has been barricaded by national security. This is to confirm that the force deployed there is the SSPDF Battalion of Tiger commanded by President Kiir himself,” the official said.

“So, as we can confirm that the Tiger battalion is the one deployed to the airport road and that is intimidating the first vice president, we call for calm among the SPLM-IO public as we try to deescalate the tensions in Juba” he added.

The deployment of troops around the First Vice President’s house comes days after the SPLM-IO withdrew its participation from security mechanisms overseeing the implementation of the security arrangements.

The SPLA-IO has accused the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and defectors of attacking its cantonment sites in Unity and Upper Nile states resulting in the killing of dozens of soldiers.