Western Bahr el Ghazal government accuses opposition SPLA-IO of attacking villages

October 23, 2015 (WAU) – South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state has accused the opposition faction of SPLA-IO led by former vice president, Riek Machar, of recent attacks on civilians in a number of villages in the state, a claim refuted by the opposition officials.

Unidentified armed men on Tuesday carried out surprise attack in the state’s Wau county, setting ablaze Ngogwa village at Momoi area, causing heavy damages to the crops, houses and displaced civilian populations.

While it remains unclear who were responsible for the attack on the local residents in Momoi, the state government however accused the rebels led by Machar of the attack in violation of the ceasefire agreement declared in August with president Salva Kiir.

Wau county commissioner, Anthony Fada Ubur, directed his accusation against the SPLM-IO for the attack. No human casualties were however reported.

The opposition leader’s spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, in an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) on Wednesday dismissed the claims, saying their forces were not responsible for the attacks, adding they have been under strict instructions to observe the ceasefire agreement.

Wau county commissioner also said two Ugandan citizens who had been roaming in Abushaka forest had been kidnapped by the alleged group that carried out the attack and their whereabouts had remained unknown.

(ST)