SPLA/IO forces tactically withdrew in Unity state: official
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
November 19, 2015, (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s armed opposition forces (SPLM/IO) led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, on Thursday said that they made a tactical withdrawal from some areas in parts of the oil-producing Unity state.
The SPLA/IO deputy chief of general staff for operation, Lt. Gen. James Koang, claimed government forces got reinforcement from Panakuach, Bentui and Wangkei and allegedly attacked their positions in Tuochluak and Buaw on Wednesday evening.
Following the attack, Koang said, the rebels tactically withdrew from the mentioned areas.
He accused the government of repeated attacks on their positions in violation to the terms of the recently-signed peace agreement.
He blamed South Sudan government for starting the aggression since Sunday by attacking several rebel held positions in Gaatdoor, the southern battlefield of Leer county in Unity state, Nhialdiu payam, Tuocluak and Thuokyierlok on the southwest of Subkona county.
Koang said their withdrawal was to give peace a chance and urged government to do the same.
Meanwhile the armed opposition faction has condemned members of South Sudan parliament for nearly approving the proposed expansion the 10 states to 28 on Thursday.
According to rebel sources, members of parliament from Equatorial and majority from upper Nile have rejected the proposal, but the assembly speaker and President Salva Kiir signed the approval, which would be effective as of November 19, 2015, if accepted.
Senior opposition officials in Addis Ababa condemned the national assembly’s approval of the presidential order and urged on President Kiir to reverse it as soon as possible.
They further said their advance team would not travel to South Sudan while the government continues violating the ceasefire stipulated in the compromised peace deal.
President Kiir on Wednesday has urged his people to accord a warm reception to the opposition advance team up on arrival in Juba.
“I appeal to all of you to welcome your brothers, your sisters, your sons and your daughters as they come back home”, Kiir told Parliamentarians.
“We welcome them with open hearts, reconcile, forgive each other, forget the past, open new pages, create trust, build confidence among yourselves and live in peace and harmony” he added.
The armed opposition faction is due to send a 500-member advance team to Juba and other states to prepare grounds for the return of their leader Riek Machar who will assume his former position as vice president during the transitional period.
(ST)