Juba accuses “enemy” of planning air raids on South Sudan territory

April 6, 2016 (JUBA) – Spokesperson of the South Sudanese army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), has accused unnamed “enemy” of planning to carry out air bombardments inside South Sudan’s territory.

Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, government’s army spokesman , said while the general security situation had been normal in the other parts of the country, enemy planes were threatening to attack from the skies.

“The overall security situation has been normal in the last four days except for reported hovering over Renk, Kaka and Wedakona of an enemy warplane,” Koang said in a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

“The locations mentioned are in Western and Eastern Nile States respectively,” he said.

Koang who did not name the “enemy” said he suspected that the warplane was on “surveillance mission before it could conduct fresh sorties.”

The areas mentioned by the military spokesperson are located in the Upper Nile region which is bordered by Blue Nile and South Kordofan states where the Sudanese army carry out daily ait attacks on the SPLM-North positions.

He also said SPLA air defence unit remained on high alert in the face of continued threats.

The government’s new spokesperson also added that there was a similar threat from another enemy’s ground force.

“On ground threats, SPLA intelligence unit continued with close monitoring of movement of enemy forces and equipment from their training and operational bases in Southern Blue [Nile] State in neighbouring Republic of Sudan.”

He explained that “These hostile elements” reached South Sudan territory and have set up makeshift camps in Maban county, Eastern Nile State.

He said their motives remained unknown, but warned that the SPLA forces will respond with “overwhelming fire-power” once provoked.

It however remained unclear whether or not he was referring to war planes from the Sudanese government or ground forces from armed opposition faction in the country.

Last week, Koang directly accused the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) of the neighbouring Sudan of allegedly carrying out air bombardments, dropping 12 and 24 bombs, respectively, on their forces in different locations and incidents.

He also accused the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) of allegedly moving with 3,000 troops, 10 tanks and other heavy weapons in Maban area to attack government’s positions.

(ST)