Armed opposition accuses S. Sudanese gov’t of renewed attacks

November 17, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Armed opposition faction (SPLA-IO) led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, have accused government forces of renewing attacks on their positions in Unity state in violation of the ceasefire agreement they signed in August with president Salva Kiir.

Opposition leader’s spokesman on Monday said their forces came under surprise attack in the morning hours of Monday in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

“Our base at Tuochluak was attacked on Monday by government forces coming out from Nhialdiu town. It is unfortunate that Juba regime has continued to violate the ceasefire despite the peace agreement to end the war,” James Gatdet Dak, spokesman for the opposition leader, Machar, said in a press statement he issued on Tuesday.

He said the opposition forces however responded in self-defense and defeated the attackers, pursuing them into Nhialdiu from where they launched the offensive.

Remnants of government forces, he added, were fleeing towards the state capital, Bentiu, in disarray.

Also Mabior Garang de Mabior National chairperson for information and public relations said the government attacks intended to divert attention of the people from the peace implementation process.

Mabior called on the concerned peace partners to launch probe in to the allegations.

“The SPLM/SPLA (In Opposition) calls on our partners in peace to investigate these crimes, before making baseless accusations for political gain”.

The opposition faction alleged that these newly formed groups have been armed and recruited out of the UNMISS Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Bor.

The statement says these armed groups are under the overall command of Gen. Lul Ruei and Gen. David Yau Yau.

Dak called on the government to stop the ceasefire violations and honour the accord signed by president Salva Kiir and the opposition leader in August.

“As we respect the peace agreement and have put our efforts in implementing it, the regime in Juba is instead busy trying to destroy the agreement,” he said.

The opposition forces have also been accusing the government of ceasefire violations in other areas including in Upper Nile and Western Equatoria states.

The two parties have been working out how to practically implement security arrangements that will see deployment of joint military and police forces in the capital, Juba, and other state capitals and major towns in the country.

(ST)