S. Sudan army general warns rebels over attacks

January 6, 2015 (ARUA) – A senior South Sudan army general was warned rebels loyal to former vice-president to desist from military attacks and pursue peaceful ways of ending the ongoing conflict.

“The guns we have purchases this time were never used during the Arab war,” he said, cautioning the rebels against military options.

Jiek described the ongoing conflict as incomparable to the over two decade civil war fought between north and south Sudan, in which estimated two million people were killed and four million displaced.

“We have power to bring fighters from anywhere in the world who can defend government because we are mandated to protect the constitutional right of the nation,” he told Sudan Tribune by phone.

Meanwhile, the senior army official, downplayed reports that the rebels had acquired sophisticated weapons to fight government.

“It will not threaten our strength towards fighting anti-government [forces],” Jiek said, adding, “If the rebels acquired new weapons from friends, it does not mean we do not have friends who can supply us.”

The conflicts in South Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly 1.8 million people into neighboring Uganda, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia since it broke out over a year ago.

Peace talks between government and armed opposition group have stalled over the role of the president and prime minister in the proposed transitional government.

(ST).