SPLM-IO says peace is priority not return to violence
June 17, 2016 (JUBA) – Spokesperson of the South Sudanese First Vice President and leader of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), Riek Machar, said their priority is to restore peace and stability in the country and not to return to violence.
James Gatdet Dak, press secretary of the opposition leader, Machar, was responding to the queries about the request allegedly made by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) of President Salva Kiir’s faction that the SPLA-IO should help in fighting those who on Wednesday attacked Raja, state capital of the newly created Lol state.
Gunmen, described as “bandits” and “criminals” by the SPLA, captured Raja on Wednesday morning but were repulsed in the evening by a combined forces of South Sudan army and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a Sudanese rebel group from Darfur which has a base near Raja inside South Sudan.
Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson of the SPLA of President Kiir’s faction, said they have appealed to the leadership of the SPLM-IO to help fight the gunmen in Western Bahr el Ghazal.
But the spokesperson of the SPLM-IO leader said their army’s priority was to consolidate peace and not to join in further violence.
“What we recommend is that the focus should be on restoring peace and stability across the country, but not to mobilize forces to renew violence. The priority is to ensure that forces of all parties are cannoned in accordance with the security arrangements. This should also include bringing on board peacefully other armed groups – be they civilians or soldiers – to stop fighting,” James Gatdet Dak told Sudan Tribune when contacted on Friday.
He said until forces of the rival armies of the SPLA-IO and SPLA are assembled and cantoned in specific cantonment areas across the country, it will be difficult to know or ascertain who is still fighting who and for what reason.
He also said the opposition forces in Bahr el Ghazal region as well as in Equatoria and Upper Nile regions have been strictly following directives from the top command to abide by the permanent ceasefire, pending establishment of their cantonment areas.
Dak added that the SPLA and any other armed groups should do the same by observing the ceasefire.
SPLA on Wednesday said they were attacked by a group of “bandits” in Raja town and called on the SPLA-IO to help fight the gunmen, despite earlier denial that the opposition forces existed in Bahr el Ghazal region.
However, SPLA-IO did not send in forces to fight against the unknown gunmen.
(ST)