Machar, Gatwech and Dr. Lam’s forces attacking me – Gen. Olony

JUBA – South Sudan opposition commander and leader of the Agwelek faction General Johnson Olony Thabo is claiming that forces belonging to SPLM-IO, NDM and SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction have been attacking him in northern Upper Nile state.

The SPLM-IO is led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, NDM by Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, while the SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction is led by General Simon Gatwech Dual Hoth.

Olony claims that attacks by the three opposition leaders’ forces occurred at Nyelwaak and Deja and resulted in the killing of at least twenty-one civilians. Olony said that the victims include 15 men and six women.

“On August 16, there was a group of forces belonging to Gatwech Dual, Lam Akol and the one of Dr. Riek Machar came and attacked people. Riek’s forces came and they attacked Nyelwaak and Deja, killing 21 civilians, 15 men and 6 women,” he told the Juba-based Eye Radio.

“Then we said okay, if they are attacking us, let’s go and fight them, we went to Diel and fought them and we captured it and entered Fanjak yesterday. We left Fanjak empty and I want to tell people of Fanjak to return back now, let them go back to Fanjak.

“But, no one should go to Diel, Diel is now our headquarters. The forces of Riek are the ones fighting against us now,” he added.

But the SPLA-IO denied attacking Olony and instead accused the opposition forces of launching an attack with the help of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

“On the 18th in the morning hours, these forces of Johnson Olony decided to move from Malakal to Atar, and started shelling our position of Diel randomly,” he said.

“But luckily enough our chairman and commander in chief Dr. Riek Machar Teny directed the forces to remain put, he is going to be able to talk to the leadership in Juba so that this is brought to a standstill,” he added.