S. Sudan rebels deny involvement in Lakes state attack
April 9, 2015 (BENTIU) – South Sudanese rebels have dismissed claims that their forces were involved in an attack in Lakes state this week.
“We have never participated in the attacks, but those are rubbish accusation by our enemies. Our forces have never involved in that attacks. And this practices was common along triangle states in their boundaries,” Jal said by satellite phone on Thursday.
Lakes states officials had accused rebels led by former president Riek Machar of allegedly launching deadly attacks in the region.
But the armed opposition governor refuted these claims, saying the rebels have no intention of attacking the very civilians for whom they took up arms in the fight against president Salva Kiir’s government.
“It is not our culture to attack civilians for whom we are fighting due to failure of Salva Kiir to lead the world’s younger nation,” said Jal.
Several people were confirmed dead following this week’s clashes between cattle raiders and cattle owners in Rumbek North county.
Over the year, cattle rustling have been a common practice among the population in the triangle states of Unity, Lake and Warrap states.
In 2012, however, governors from these three states introduced a policy to apprehend anyone involved in the cattle rustling along their common borders. It was implemented by the former governors of Lakes and Unity states as well as the governor of Warrap.
(ST)