S. Sudanese official accuses rebels of massively recruiting youth

June 26, 2015 (KAMPALA) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Unity state have accused the armed opposition of recruiting youths in Payinjiar county and neighbouring Lakes state.

The Payinjiar commissioner, William Joak, claimed youth from Unity and Lakes states were joining rebel-manned training camps south of the oil-rich region.

He accused rebel commander, Abdelatif Khamis for carrying out the youth recruitments.

“Gen. Khamis is opening up more training camps with sole objective of attacking government positions in neighbouring Lakes State,” Joak told Sudan Tribune Friday.

He said the armed opposition forces were doing massive mobilisation in Payinjiar and neighboring Lake state with the aim of counter attacking pro-government held erritories.

The commissioner Joak advised the rebels to leave the area to avoid military confrontations.

Joak further cautioned the local population against supporting rebel activities amid unconfirmed claims that some citizens were offering resistance to the armed opposition.

“Am urging the local people in the area to abandon the rebels because ifthey continue supporting them, it will destabilise the historical relations with neighboring communities of Lake state,” he added.

The commissioner dismissed as untrue claims that the army committed crimes in Unity state.

Rebel leader, Riek Machar appointed Khamis, formerly the director of the state-owned South Sudan television, as the Rumbek militarily governor after the Pagak conference.

In May, government forces attempted to capture Payinjiar county from armed opposition, but were defeated, losing several of their military equipments to the armed opposition.

Talks between South Sudan’s warring parties are due to commence in the Ethiopian capital Addis-Ababa next month, but previous negotiations have not been successful.

(ST).