SPLA admits attacking opposition forces around Wau

April 6, 2016 (WAU) – South Sudanese government has admitted its forces have attacked locations of opposition forces in Wau county of the newly created Wau state of former Western Bahr el Ghazal state, but said they were fighting against “criminals.”

Earlier, Tingo Peter, a native of Wau and the governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state in the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the First Vice President designate, Riek Machar, said government forces have attacked their positions since Monday.

“The government forces have attacked our army position there on Monday and according to our sources there, they are now preparing to launch another attack on our forces…,” Peter told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

He further alleged that government forces have attacked the SPLA-IO’s cantonment areas in Bushere and Khor-Ghana, adding that the aim of the government’s offensive was to deny the opposition forces cantonment areas in Western Bhar el Ghazal.

Meanwhile, government has admitted carrying out the attacks against opposition forces, but denied any violation of the peace agreement, saying their forces were dealing with criminals who are not part of the SPLA-IO.

The head of Information and Public Relations in the South Sudanese army, Brigadier General Malaak Ayuen, said the SPLM-IO has no forces in Western Bahr al-Ghazal state.

“Those in Western Bahr el-Ghazal are not part of IO; they are not covered by the agreement and it is the right of government forces to deal with such elements,” he said.

“So we don’t know…whether they are part of IO or they are independent forces, because since we signed the agreement, they have been attacking our position,” he added.

South Sudanese government has so far refused to allow the SPLM-IO to have cantonment areas in both Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria regions, saying they were not part of the 21 months of the civil war which was supposed to end in the signing of a peace agreement in August 2015.

The fresh attacks occurred as the army’s chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan, has visited Wau, allegedly with 2 helicopter gunships and 3 military carriers.

While the reason behind the sudden visit of the army’s chief was not explained, officials of the government said the visit had nothing to do with the attacks.

(ST)