SPLA-IO debunks reports defector controls Moroto training center

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, has debunked reports that senior opposition commander who defected to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in September has overrun a training centre in Central Equatoria state.

This morning, a section of the media reported that General Moses Lokujo, the SPLA-IO officer who defected to the SSPDF on September 21, has captured Moroto training center where opposition forces are currently enrolled in a training.

Fighting broke out in Moroto earlier this week after General Lokujo attacked SPLA-IO following his declaring that he now switched site to the SSPDF.

However, opposition spokesmen said in separate statements that the attacking forces, which were allegedly assisted by members of SSPDF, were repulsed.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO deputy spokesman  denied the reports and said their forces had only made a brief withdrawal to evacuated those wounded during the attack.

“Gen. Lokujo didn’t over run the Training Centre,” Lam said. “What happened was when his forces attacked Morota,  there were many unarmed trainees that needed protection. They were first evacuated to a safer area before the protection  force of the Training Centre came back to engage the attacking force of Gen. Lokujo.”

He further said that those “trainees are currently back in the Training Centre.”