October 15th 2018 (Nyamiepedia) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by the former First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, said the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit is not interested in the existence of SPLA-IO forces in Equatorian region.
After the signing of the permanent ceasefire agreement in June between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader, Dr. Riek machar, fighting continued in Central Equatoria between government and rebel forces with both sides accusing each other of attacking themselves.
Fighting never stopped even after the signing of a permanent ceasefire agreement in September by Kiir and Machar along with other opposition groups in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia on Saturday, the SPLM-IO Deputy Chairperson of the group’s National committee for Information and Public Relations, Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, said the rebel group has understood that the government, in light of offensives against its positions, does not want the existence of SPLA-IO forces in the area.
“What is clearfrom us now is that the government do nmot want SPLM-IO in Equatoria region,” Gatkuoth told the Nyamilepedia onn Saturday.
He accused the government of neighboring Uganda of caring out these activities with the South Sudan government saying the two allies do not want any cantonment site for Machar’s SPLM-IO in the Equatoria region.
“They are doing this together with Uganda. They do not want the presence of SPLM-IO in Equatoria nor any cantonement area for SPLM-IO there that is why they are attacking our forces in Arat, Kajo-Keji in Yei River strate,” Gatkuoth added.
He further said there is no any sign that there is peace throughout the country given the attacks against their forces by the government troops stationed there saying the government is only preparing for war and not for peace.
“There is no any sign of peace throughout South Sudan. Upto this moment. People are just preparing for war and not for peace in Juba,” he further added.
