Western Equatoria official warns of new rebellion

May 27, 2015 (JUBA) – The government of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state has warned of a likely outbreak of a new rebellion in the area should authorities fail to address insecurity concerns in the region.

“The situation can be become rebellion only if authorities fail to answer the cry of the people for security and not rough SPLA soldiers and we are asking Army headquarters to change these units for better understanding and cooperative units who can live in harmony with the citizens of the area.”, Western Equatoria state information minister Charles Barnaba Kisanga said in a statement.

Minister Kisanga, in a statement Sudan Tribune obtained, denied that there was a rebellion in the area despite announcement by army spokesman that a new ‘rebel’ group was formed.

Colonel Philip Aguer, spokesman of the government forces announced on Monday that a new rebellion has formed in the state, “There is a new rebel movement in Western Equatoria state. Security reported that somebody called Charles Balogore under Wesley Waluba” leads the rebellion”, said Aguer.

But state government spokesperson dismissed the reports of rebellion as “not true” and these reports were “one sided” and not taking into account of things into consideration” from state administration.”

“I stand by our earlier story that it was local youth who reacted to the looting and destruction by SPLA unit in Mundri on Friday 22nd May 2015 and took control. The Youth were angry at the assassination of their Executive Director plus random gunfire perpetuated by the army then,” Kisanga explained.

The minister however admitted that there was attack on the government troops by unknown, citing the presence of some cattle keepers who had reportedly carried attacks before the incident in the area.

“Yes there was unknown gunmen who attacked some group of SPLA soldiers at night on Rumbek/Maridi roads junction but also some remnants of cattle raiders/rustlers had been attacking cars and civilians along the road in the area for sometimes and just a few days before the junction incident, two civilians were killed in circumstances related to the tension between cattle raiders/pastoralists, local civilians and the army and so the whole episode then was related to the previous tension with cattle raiders in the area”, he explained.

Minister Kisanga further out that the death of the county executive director John Cleopa cannot be blamed on rebels because he was surrounded by security forces “all around” while he was inspecting the scene of the shooting where SPLA soldiers had been killed when he was killed.

“It seemed one member from the security forces moved a bit aside and opened fire killing the Executive Director and fire was also directed at the commissioner Hon Hassan Bhakeit who had to duck to escape the bullets and even his car was later hit.” he said.

(ST).