At least 16 people killed in SSPDF, SPLA-IO clashes in Nagero County

At least 16 people including a soldier have been confirmed killed since clashes erupted on Sunday, between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State.
Henry Bangada Assaya, Commissioner of Nagero County.

By Denis Ejulu & Arich Deng

At least 16 people including a soldier have been confirmed killed since clashes erupted on Sunday, between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State.

Henry Bangada Assaya, Commissioner of Nagero County, said the fighting which initially broke out at Kubri-Boo Bridge has left 15 civilians killed and displaced over 79,000 people who are currently hiding in the bushes.

“The fighting is still ongoing even yesterday, it happened and even yesterday evening I witnessed heavy army weapons heading to where the fighting erupted,” said Bangada in an interview on Thursday.

He disclosed the fighting between the two sides has spread to Bazia, Western Bahr El Ghazal State.

SSPDF spokesperson, Maj. Gen Lul Ruai Koang, said the fighting which initially erupted due to the refusal by the SPLA-IO forces to vacate the illegal check point at Kubri-Boo Bridge, has escalated following an attack on the SSPDF soldiers by the SPLA-IO.

 “Initially, we thought it was repercussion of that individual officer with few elements from the SPLA-IO that were resisting the removal of the road block, but after the removal of the road block we were attacked at Kubri -Boo Bridge and we repulsed them but they came back again. On Tuesday, in the evening at around 4 p.m they crossed from their territory and ambushed a Toyota land cruiser from the rear with an RPG, and we lost one soldier and three were wounded and then they fled back,” said Koang.

Koang slammed the leadership of the SPLA-IO in Juba, for lying low as the fighting escalates, adding that First Vice President, Riek Machar and Lt. Gen Gabriel Duop Lam, General Chief of Staff of the SPLA-IO and also Deputy Chief of Defense Forces are not reining in their forces to end the fighting.

“Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam has been keeping quiet, and also the First Vice President and Chairman of the SPLA-IO, Riek Machar is also keeping quiet, so you do not know whether they are not in control of their forces or they are in agreement with what is happening in Nagero County,” he disclosed.

Koang said their forces were attacked twice at Kubri-Boo and the third attack occurred in Zamoi.

However, Ali Solomon Simon, Sector Commander of the SPLA-IO in Nagero County, accused the SSPDF of starting the fight when they attacked their forces at a cantonment site.

“Prior to the fighting we were here in the cantonment site, waiting for the second phase of training of the unified forces and I don’t know why the government brought their forces here to start fighting my forces,” said Simon.

“If they wanted my forces to vacate the road block, we should have sat down and discussed it but now they started a war with my forces. I am disappointed about this situation, because we are supposed to be implementing the 2018 revitalized peace agreement but the government soldiers are instead fighting us,” he added.

Simon said the fighting has now spread to Bazia, Western Bahr El Ghazal State where his forces are currently stationed.

“All my forces have left the Kubri-Boo and are now in Bazia, the government soldiers are still pursuing them,” he said.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Thursday it is deeply concerned by reports of clashes between armed forces in Western Equatoria which have resulted in civilian casualties and displacement.

UNMISS called for intervention from the highest levels of government to prevent further deterioration of the security situation following several violent incidents between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition in the area around Nagero in recent days.  

“We call on all military actors to refrain from conflict and resolve tensions through dialogue,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom.

“This incident also highlights the need to urgently progress the deployment of Necessary Unified Forces across the country,” he added.

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