SSPDF clash with SPLA-IO in Nagero over removal of checkpoint

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the opposition South Sudan People’s Liberation Army- in Opposition (SPLA-IO) on Saturday clashed following the removal of Kubri Bou check point in Nagero County of Western Equatoria state.
Maj.Gen.Lul Ruai Koang, Spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF)

By Simon Deng

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the opposition South Sudan People’s Liberation Army- in Opposition (SPLA-IO) on Saturday clashed following the removal of Kubri Bou check point in Nagero County of Western Equatoria state.

The Kubri Bou checkpoint was hitherto under control of SPLA-IO forces under Brig.Gen David David.

SSPDF spokesperson, Maj.Gen Lul Ruai Koang told the Dawn on Sunday that prior to the removal of the checkpoint at Kubri Bou, the Chief of Defense Forces, Gen.Paul Nang Majok reached out to Lt.Gen Gabriel Duop Lam, the Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, who is also the General Chief of Staff of SPLA-IO to communicate with Brig.Gen David David on the need for him to comply.

“When the resolution was reached that all the illegal checkpoints must be removed, he complied and the roadblock was dismantled. Unfortunately, he was not entirely happy with the move because it was effectively cutting off his financial lifeline, he attacked our forces that was dismantling roadblocks,” said Koang.

He revealed that there were casualties as a result of fighting in Kubri Bou, adding a civilian considered as an informant was captured and killed by SPLA-IO forces.

Koang said the resolution on the removal of illegal roadblocks was reached by the transitional government of national unity under the governance cluster headed by First Vice President Riek Machar Teny.

 “On the removal of roadblocks on the land, we had largely succeeded. And for us to safeguard ourselves against a relapse by way of re-establishment of illegal checkpoints, we had put in place a standby force to carry out regular patrols along the major highways to ensure that there is no re-establishment,” he disclosed.

However, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the spokesperson for SPLA-IO said their forces had already withdrawn from Kubri Bou checkpoint following presidential directives regarding closure of checkpoints. 

“Kubri bou is an assembly area of the SPLA-IO, not an outpost of the SSPDF but with the directives from the President regarding closure of checkpoints, the SPLA-IO withdrew from Kubri Bou in the spirit of peace,” said Gabriel.

He said the CDF and his Deputy CDF who also doubles as the Chief of General Staffs of the SPLA-IO had not reached any consensus regarding which force should be deployed in Kubri Bou.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *