24 Jan, 2017 (Nyamilepedia) — The South Sudanese armed opposition (SPLA-IO) has shot down a government military plane over the weekend killing all on board including the pilots and dozens of senior officers on board who where accompanying the military plane.
The plane was believed to be transporting weapons and ammunitions to Upper Nile’s strategic town of Nasir as war intensifies across the country between the two main opponents in South Sudan conflict.
In a press statement by the armed opposition military spokesman Colonel. William Gatjiath, the plane was brought down on Sunday by the 3rd division of SPLA-IO in Upper Nile under operational command of Major General Tut Riik.
South Sudan’s armed opposition which is originally part of the National Army, broke away after South Sudan’s civil war kicked off in Juba in 2013 between supporters of President Silva Kiir and those supporting the former Vice President Riek Machar.
The rebel group unlike other African rebel groups operates like a full National Army with full divisions allover the vast country led by senior military commanders including the chief of staff and his five deputies who were all senior military officials in South Sudan’s army or in the former Sudan Armed Forces.
They have full zonal and divisional commanders and specialized units, all across the country including a special division based in Upper Nile led by Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony, the oppositions’ 1st division commander.
Current armed opposition chief of genera staff, 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual is believed to be the most high ranked military officials in the whole of South Sudan on both government and opposition sides before the war broke out.
1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech fought in both the first Sudan civil war(Anyanya one and two) and also fought in the second Sudan civil war of SPLM/SPLA between 1983 to 2005, and he is currently fighting the first South Sudan civil war.
Intense battles last weekend between government and rebel forces saw opposition forces capturing key towns in the key oil state of Upper Nile. The rebels captured the town of Nordeng which is at the outskirts of Nasir, Upper Nile’s second largest town.
A senior official within the opposition military ranks who gave his name as Mach told Nyamilepedia reporter that the armed opposition have recently acquired anti-aircraft air-to-surface missiles, however, he did not say where the weapons have been acquired from.
“….yes the weapons are there now, they brought it, is being for distributed now in the different fronts…yes they (weapons suppliers) came with a helicopters at night, but i don’t know from where…” Mach told the reporter
The armed opposition military spokesperson accused Silva kiir’s forces of continuing to transport weapons and stepping up offensive against their positions across the country contrary to Kiir’s government claims of implementing the peace agreement and wanting a peaceful resolution to the conflict in South Sudan.
The army spokesperson warned that the South Sudanese armed opposition, the SPLM/A-IO, was now capable of brining down any threats to its forces from the air, an indication that the opposition might have received new supplies of anti-aircraft weapons.
“…the gallant SPLA-IO forces in and around Nasir and indeed across South Sudan are now professionally capable of bringing down any threat from the air, defend their territories and protect the innocent civilian population from the ruthlessness of the Juba regime solders..” Col, William said in a statement released to media on Monday.
11 comments
Idik;South sudanese gov’t and opposition should rmember whatever they re doing should be for peace, that is what GOD want for humanity not killing, abuses,rap and looting.
Our problem in south Sudan is Salva Kiir who failed as the national leader, but hovering tribal supports to remain in power where everything is out in his hands.
The conflict can only be resolved at the negotiation table. Kiirs speech about peace and national dialogue whilst at the same time aggressively exterminating South Sudanese people is not bringing peace. On the contrary, the international community is well aware of Kiir’s antics by now.
Festus Mogae appear to have joined the IG as a spokesman, far removed from his position of an independent monitor. AU should insist on replacing him at its earliest convenience.
please our leaders wherever they are from,people of south Sudan.let us stop doing anything just for five minutes and ask ourselves why are we fighting and killing ourselves until when remember neither you who is rich,nor me who is poor will achieve anything at the end of the day but we will all be the losers Our Enemies is not our brothers and sisters but they are somewhere watching and laughing.we are always resilient why this time……………….GOD IS WATCHING US OUR PRAYERS IS FAR FROM REACHING HIM.
what ever exaggeration or incitation you make here in the media will never bring any success. The website itself is not impartial so no one can believe anything relating to it.
The lunatic SPLM/IO movement is only confabulating their lame headlines predominantly to withdraw the attention of the common South Sudanese but I have to assure them that nothing will shake the nation.
We will defeat whatever allies against the govt.
You who speak like that ,you are comfortable some where and saying we shall defeat them did you fought one day ,what you know is only corruption
Me as wieya nothing i support from kirr ,because you don’t need to support and follow some one who doesnt know what to do ,changes are better ,peace will come and many others
supporter of despotism, nepotism ,tribalism any one who is like him or benefit from him should oppose me
the government should thing about peace .,it has the upper hands in everything .,let them not talk about peace and then waging a full scale war on the other side,,i don’t thing its serious about peace and about its citizen .,government is going to lose .,for we are tired .we want change .we want peace .,we want development .,.,.,.soon you will be like Gambia president,,,loot what you can .,.
Congratulations to IO leadership under visionary man c in c Dr machar
For the big task or lesson they show to rotten regime of salva kiir
Stop telling lies to people of South Sudan.