Press Statement 18/01/2019 The SPLA IO…

Press Statement
18/01/2019
The SPLA IO learned with dismay the accusation labelled against its forces by Uganda government on 15/01/2019 for crossing into Uganda and raising South Sudan flag in Ngomoromo as reported by The Tower Post online media outlet: https://thetowerpost.com/…/panic-as-south-sudan-militants-…/
This is absolutely false and baseless; The SPLA IO forces are at the moment busy preparing to go into cantonment sites as per the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

It should be noted that, this is not the first time the Uganda government especially the Lamwo RDC James Kidega is labeling baseless accusations against the SPLA IO. It also happened in November/2018 in a video widely circulated on social media where he said armed men believed to be South Sudanese rebels (referring to the SPLA IO) annexed some villages in Lamwo district to South Sudan.
The RDC also threatened military actions against the SPLA IO which is absolutely uncalled for at this time when peace is being observed in South Sudan. This makes one to question his motives which we believe is rather personal than communal or national. The SPLA IO would like to advice James Kidega to desist from causing inter communal conflicts between a peaceful community of the same origin to achieve his personal interests. Uganda is a guarantor of the R-ARCSS, therefore, threatening a military action against the SPLA IO by Kidega for something they haven’t done is definitely contradicting.
The SPLA IO calls upon the CTSAMM, UNMISS and the JDB to send a team to investigate this accusations made against the SPLA IO in Ngomoromo immediately.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel
SPLA IO Deputy Military Spokesperson