SSPDF denies involvement in attack on Abyei which left 36 killed

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) have denied involvement of their officers in Sunday’s attack in Abyei Administrative Area which left 36 people killed and more than 20 civilians wounded.
Maj.Gen Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesperson ( Photo by Joseph Pitiya)

By Benjamin Takpiny

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) have denied involvement of their officers in Sunday’s attack in Abyei Administrative Area which left 36 people killed and more than 20 civilians wounded.

“I would like to take this opportunity to announce to all the listeners of various radio stations that are here now ,to all the media outlets, that the SSPDF forces, were not involved in the recurrent clashes between the two rival communities, I have just come to clear out our names, that we are not involved in the ongoing clashes at all, The accusations level Against the SSPDF in general, and against the commander of 3rd  Infantry Division, are not substantial And therefore, we dismiss it”  Maj.Gen Lul Ruai Koang, The Spokesperson of South Sudan People’s Defense forces said on Tuesday during the media Stakeholders Forum in Juba.

He said that the two communities have been fighting for a very long time, and that problem is a well-known problem. And It even drew the attention of the national government, and as a result, a high-level committee was formed under the leadership of His Excellency Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi on how these recurrent problems could be brought under control.

The violence erupted at 6 A.M on Sunday following a revenge attack on Ngok Dinka in Wuncuei and Nyiel areas of Abyei Administrative Area by armed youth from Twic County of neighboring Warrap state.

The latest attack comes after clashes in Ayuok area of Twic County on November 13, between the two sides, left 34 people killed including one SSPDF soldier.

 “To the contrary, we have been victims, we as the SSPDF four of our many bases got attacked by armed men, we have not been issuing any statement accusing any of the rival factions not because we do not know the prime suspect, It’s because we do not want to muddy the dirty water,”Maj.Gen  Koang said.

He said that the SSPDF military base in Ayuok was attacked last week, leaving dozens of soldiers killed.

 He also dismissed the allegations that SSPDF have been in confrontation with UNISFA

“There was also a report that we had engaged the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA), it is not true our forces did not get into armed confrontation with UNISFA. The chief of defense forces also got in touch with the commander of UNISFA and there was a clear indication that we did not engage UNISFA,”Maj.Gen  Koang said.

He said the SSPDF are not allowed to operate within the Abyei box.

“The joint force that were deployed, they were deployed outside of Abyei  box to act as a buffer zone between the two rival groups, and to ensure that the road, which is connecting the two regions is not cut off by armed highway criminals,” Maj.Gen  Koang said.

 Bulis Koch Aguar Ajith, information minister for Abyei Administrative Area condemned and also claimed that SSPDF soldiers were seen aiding the attackers from Twic County.

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