BREAKING: SSPDF attacks SPLA-IO training center in Upper Nile

MALAKAL – A contingent of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has launched a surprise attack against a main armed opposition group training centre in the country’s Upper Nile state, raising fears of escalation between the two peace partners, according to an opposition spokesman.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, Lt. Col Chuol Deng Thon, a SPLA-IO media official, said SSPDF forces launched an attack this afternoon at Dinji training center in Maban county accusing government forces of working to escalate fighting in the country.

“The South Sudan Defense Forces renewed a large-scale attack on our forces in IO today at 3 pm according to the African time at the Dingji training center for the joint forces located between Maban and Adariel in the Upper Nile oil state,” Deng said.

“But our forces were able to repel these violations and attacks by the regime forces, and now our forces in the opposition are in full control of the Dengji training center after the regime forces reported a number of losses,” he said, despite reports to Sudans Post that fighting was still going on in the area.

The senior opposition military officer further said the group “strongly condemn the Juba regime and Minister of Defense Angelina Teny for allowing the launch of those barbaric and wrongful attacks using the government militias in their presence.

He further said intelligence reports for the opposition forces in Juba have “confirm that the regime will launch separate attacks in the coming days in different areas in Upper Nile.”