UPDATE: Two SSPDF soldiers killed as SPLA-IO ‘repulses’ Kajo-Keji attack

YEI – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLA-IO, is saying that it has killed at least two members of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces following this morning’s attack on Moroto training Centre in Kajo-Keji where SPLA-IO forces are stationed for supposed training of unified forces.

This morning, SPLA-IO spokesman Brigadier-General William Gatjiath Deng told Sudans Post that former SPLA-IO commander who defected to the SPLA-IO forces last month attacked opposition garrison in Kajo-Keji with the help of SSPDF forces.

In statement this afternoon, the SPLA-IO General headquarters said it has repelled the attack killing two soldiers and wounding four from the SSPDF forces. The statement said none of the SPLA-IO soldiers involved in today’s fighting has neither been wounded or killed.

“Two soldiers were killed and 4 wounded from the government forces in an attack launched by the government forces this morning without any one being wounded from the [SPLA-] IO forces in the Central Equatoria region of Kajo-Keji,” the statement said.

“This attack came at a time when peace monitors were going to Kajo-Keji to investigate last week’s attack which took place following the defection of SPLA-IO commander of Division 2B General Moses Lokujo to the government’s side. The SPLA-IO forces have forces managed to repulse the attack,” the statement added.

The main armed opposition group further warned against continued violation of the revitalized peace agreement the June 2018 permanent ceasefire, urging teh regional block, IGAD, which mediated the 2018 peace agreement to investigate the attack and take the government to book.

“Despite the ceasefire in the country, the government is still launching its repeated attacks in many regions in the country. Some areas are still witnessing repeated attacks from one week to the other, in a way that makes the increased displacement in these areas,” the statement said.

“Therefore, we ask the IGAD countries, the African Union and the Troika countries, to investigate the continued government hostilities against our forces because we will not tolerate the continued death of our innocent soldiers,” the statement further added.