SSPDF, SPLA-IO clash in Maiwut County

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) has accused the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) of attacked its base in Maiwut County of Upper Nile state resulting in the killing of one solider and wounding of two others.

Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO spokesman said forces under the command of General Ochan Puot, a pro-SSDPF militia commander, launched attack on their base in Kuerkeem on Saturday and Sunday but said they were repulsed.

“These clashes started on Saturday evening when forces loyal to Gen. Ochang Puot who we know is under the SSPDF attacked our forces in Kuerkeem but they were repulsed,” the SPLA-IO mouthpiece told Radio Tamazuj in an interview.

“Again, on Sunday at 10 am, they resumed their attack but were later repulsed in the afternoon. Unfortunately, we lost one soldier in action during the clashes and two others were injured,” added Col. Lam.

The SPLA-IO military spokesperson however said that normalcy had returned to Jekou after the clashes and appealed for calm.

“It is very unfortunate that such incidents are continuing with our peace partners. Our acting chief of staff, Gen. Duop Lam, is aware of the incident and I believe the issue will be discussed at the top military leadership so that an amicable solution is found,” he added.

SSPDF DENIES INVOLVEMENT

But South Sudan People’s Defense Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang denied that their forces are involved in the attack and alleged that civilians were the one fighting among themselves in an area called Bieh.

“The clashes involved civilians according to the information I received,” he said.

“Civilians were the ones fighting themselves in an area called Bieh. I do not know if those clashes spread to Kuerkeem,” he added.