January 20th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The holdout opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka said on Friday that the South Sudan army is planning to launch its dry season offensives against its position in different parts of the country.
Early on Tuesday, South Sudan’s army Chief and Chairperson of Joint Defense Board (JDB) Gen. Jok Riak accused Thomas Cirilo of refusing to join the peace process and continue to kill people and raping them, the peace partners will not stand and watch.
“When things became to unabated situation [and] if he (Cirilo) cannot listen we cannot just stand and watch while he is doing what he think to be for his benefit,” Gen. Jok said.
However, in a statement issued on Friday and seen by the Nyamilepedia, the NAS Chief of General Staffs, Gen Fa,izi Ismail Fatur denied claims by the South Sudan army and the SPLA-IO that NAS is not for peace and that it is killing civilians.
“The Office of Chief of Staff for National Salvation Front/Army, categorically refute such irresponsible statement by these two military leaders and view these expressions as baseless and bare threats. NAS, instead is a genuine peace stakeholder which is trying to contribute together with other like-minded opposition groups in bringing just and viable lasting peace in South Sudan,” he said in a statement issued on Friday.
He further warned that the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit is planning to launch dry season offensives against its positions in different parts of the country.
“NAS military leadership would like to inform the people of South Sudan IGAD, UNIMISS, TROIKA and the international community that, the tribal regime of Salva Kiir in Juba is preparing for dry season offensive especially in Central Equatoria State,” he said.
“For this reason, the regime is trying to mobilize regional and international support to legitimize its dry season offensive,” he stressed.
