June 4th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group under the leadership of the country’s former first vice president, Dr. Riek Machar, has accused the South Sudanese government of waging offensives in multiple fronts across the country.
The SPLM/A[IO] calls on UNMISS and CTSAMM to investigate what they call violations against the ceasefire agreement signed in December 2017.
In a statement released by the SPLA-IO deputy spokesman, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the government attacked their positions in Yei River State, Liech state among other areas.
“On 1/06/2018 at about 9:30am, the regime’s forces accompanied by an APC and a land cruiser pick up mounted with 12.7 attacked the SPLA-IO force at Kendiri in Kajo-Keji County but faced a crushing defeat,” the statement said adding that the government attacked their position in Mirmir in Unity State leading to the capture of Gany Payam by the rebel group.
The statement added that the government attacked rebels’ position in Mid-West state last week but were also repulsed by the SPLA-IO forces stationed in Yeri County.
“On 30/05/2018, the SPLA-IO force of Div 9A in and around Yeri County came under the usual aggressive attack from the rogue regime. Nevertheless, our force fought back with determination and captured Yeri. As part of our compliance with the provisions of the CoHA, the SPLA-IO leadership directed the victorious Div. 9A force to withdraw from Yeri town yesterday, 02/06/2018 in the evening. They withdrew tactfully leaving 36 dead bodies of the regime’s soldiers littering on the ground,” Col. Lam said.
The SPLA-IO officer added that the government attacked their forces in Nadiangere in Western Equatoria last week, and also the day before yesterday their base in Wunulyet near Juba came under fierce attack by the government resulting into the death of a top rebel commander in the area.
The armed opposition calls on CTSAMM and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to investigate these violations.
“The SPLA-IO is calling upon the CTSAMM and UNMISS to investigate these violations purposely orchestrated by the regime to derail the peace process through the HLRF. The SPLA-IO forces are hereby directed to continue to be on high alert as they maintain their defensive positions amidst these violations from the regime,” he said in the statement.
