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Sudan Tribune

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Juba accuses Sudan of supporting new insurgency in Western Equatoria

May 26, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government has renewed accusations against neighbouring Sudan of allegedly providing military support to a new rebellion in Western Equatoria state.

Arrow Boys seen here in May 2010, patrol a village in south Sudan in an attempt to defend themselves from attacks LRA rebels (AFP)
Arrow Boys seen here in May 2010, patrol a village in south Sudan in an attempt to defend themselves from attacks LRA rebels (AFP)
Spokesperson of the South Sudanese army (SPLA), Colonel Philip Aguer, announced on Monday that a new rebel movement had been formed in Western Equatoria state with weapons provided by the Sudanese government.

“They are using new weapons. They are automatic rifle kalashnikov. Our forces in Mundri have discovered new AK47 that you can fold. They are using the machine guns called 42 that are being used now by Sudan Armed Forces,” Aguer claimed.

The new group, he said, was being led by a former member of parliament, Wesley Weluba, who lost election in 2010.

“The security information we have is that somebody called Charles Balogore under the command of Wesley Waluba is the one causing this insecurity in the area. Wesley was a former member of parliament of Western Equatoria but lost election in 2010 and formed a rebellion to chase away the cattle camps from Western Equatoria,” Aguer further explained.

He further explained that when Wesley succeeded with the chasing of cattle camps from the area particularly towards Lakes state, he and his group decided to turn against the government. The army and the security, he added, were working together in investigating the size of the new rebellion.

He was making the official response on recent military developments in Mundri West county, Western Equatoria state, where government soldiers came under attack resulting in the initial killing of at least two soldiers and later the county executive director, John Cleopa.

The group also captured Mundri town, which is the administrative headquarters in Mundri West county until more army and police reinforcement dislodged them from the town on Saturday.

Opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, said the new group was allied to them under the operational command of Colonel Wesley Weluba, and under the overall command of Major General Elias Laku Jada.

(ST)

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