August 6, 2019(Nyamilepedia) — A fighting that began between the SPLA-IO and armed civilians in Maiwut last week is now confirmed to have escalated to an intense fighting between the main rival factions, the South Sudan People Defense Forces and the SPLA in Opposition.
According to sources who have spoken to Nyamilepedia correspondent from Turu town, South Sudan government forces and militias allied to Governor Bol Ruach Rom have attacked the SPLA-IO forces in Turu villages this morning and fighting continued at the time of this writing.
“Fighting is on going right now at Merdiet, and intensified to the main Turuw town (Turuw taken by IG). Let’s be informed that it is no more between Chie-Waw and IO, but IO Vs IG in pretext of WADU (James Ochan’s Camp).” A verified source confirmed to Nyamilepedia.
“Civilians displaced from as far as Kiäch and Dine to the villages along Jikow tributary” The source reiterates.
According to reliable sources in Maiwut, Governor Bol Ruach, who is allied to president Salva Kiir, has been supplying youth from Chie-Waaw with arms and ammunitions to wage war against the oppositions, however, latest reports verified that the government forces are now directly involved in fighting alongside youth from Chie-Waaw.
In attempt to resolve the fighting in Maiwut, the SPLM/A(IO) Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, replaced the former governor of Adar and his deputy, and also replaced leading commanders in the area; however, the situation continued to escalate.
Dr. Machar relieved the warring generals, Maj. Gen. Khort Chuol Giet and Maj. Gen. Ochan Puot who is believed to have defected to government side.
Machar promptly promoted Maj. Gen. David Dep Ruot Long, Maj Gen. John Kang Riek Diew and Brigadier Gen. Jacob Nhial Gatchai Wiew to command the IO forces in Turu Cantonment as the commander, deputy commander and operational commander, respectively.
Dr. Machar also promoted Maj.Gen James Gatluak Puoch to command the forces in Jekou Cantonment and be deputized by Maj. Gen. John Gatwech Thokwath Gang.
Despite the changes, fighting continues to escalate as government allied militias fight proxy war behind civilians and defected soldiers from Chie-Waaw.
Latest reports from the ground confirm that the SPLA-IO forces have withdrawn from Turu cantonment to Lol-Nyang, a swampy area where majority of civil population is currently displaced to.
Attempts to reach the government forces’ spokesman to respond to these developing stories were not returned at the time of this writing.
