South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) captured two commanders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) during clashes in the Mathiang area of Longechuk County, Upper Nile State, on Monday.
Colonel Garang Ateny Alier, the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, who also serves as the Acting SSPDF spokesperson, stated that the SSPDF successfully drove out SPLA-IO forces from Mathiang.
“Yesterday morning, around 5 am, the SPLA-IO launched an attack, but they were repelled by the SSPDF. The SSPDF is a gallant and professional national defence force that cannot be terrorised by the armed militia of the SPLA-IO,” Alier spoke to The Dawn by phone yesterday.
“They returned again, and we managed to chase them away. When they came a third time, we captured their two commanders who were leading the attack. We are in control of Mathiang and other military barracks,” he added.
Alier asserted that there were no areas captured by the SPLA-IO, emphasising that the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces have been acting in self-defence as the SPLA-IO violates the 2018 revitalised peace agreement.
“The SPLA-IO consistently violates the revitalised peace agreement; they have been attacking our positions. We are always in self-defence because we respect the revitalised peace agreement and the cessation of hostilities,” he explained.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the spokesperson for SPLA-IO, stated that the SPLA-IO’s 5th Infantry Division launched a precise and swift attack against SSPDF forces in Mathiang, inflicting heavy casualties on both the human and material fronts.
“The SPLA-IO force then withdrew for tactical reasons after the successful operation,” Gabriel said in a statement.
Peter Ngwojo, the Minister of Information and Communication in Upper Nile State, stated that the claim that the SPLA-IO has captured Mathiang is false, adding that the clashes occurred outside Mathiang.
“It is not true. Yesterday, the SPLA-IO attempted to attack Mathiang, and the SSPDF drove them out. The fighting occurred far from Mathiang; the citizens remain in their areas, and there has been no displacement. The government is still in control of the area,” Ngwojo said.
