SSPDF attack SPLA-IO base in Upper Nile, says spokesman

JUBA — South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has said that forces of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) have attacked one of its bases in Upper Nile state and burned it down to ashes.

In a statement, SPLA-IO spokesman Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said forces belonging to SSPDF commander General Gordon Banak launched an attack on its cantonment site at Liangji in Maban County of Upper Nile state just days after visiting Maban.

“On 16/04/2022, the SSPDF under the command of Maj. Gen. Gordon Banak attacked the SPLA-IO forces in Liangji cantonment  site and burned it down to ashes.  This attack came just two days after Gen. Banak visited Maban town,” Lam said.

While the statement said the attack violates directive of President Salva Kiir Mayardit for respect of ceasefire, it called on the peace monitoring bodies to investigate and bring culprits to account.

“This is a serious and an intentional violation that undermines the directives from H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, The President of the Republic of South Sudan and the Commander in Chief of the SSPDF during the swearing in of the Unified Command  on 14/04/2022,” he said.

“The SPLA-IO calls upon the CTSAMVM and the JDB to investigate this violation and bring those responsible to book,” he added.