Mar 28th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – In a new wave of violations of the Ceasation of Hostilities agreements signed by the warring parties in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last year, government and the main armed opposition group led by the former First Vice President Riek Machar are accusing each other of violating the truth.
In a statement released on his Facebook page, the SPLA-IOÂ Deputy Military Spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, accused the government’s SPLA of violating the Ceasation of Hostilities Agreement in three locations in various states.
In the opposition’s Bieh State, Lam Paul said “Yesterday the 27/03/2018 at about 9:30pm the regime’s forces attacked our position in Payai Payam of Pieri County in its second aggressive attempt to capture the area. The fight has just ended and details will follow in the morning.” adding that the attack came after “the regime’s forces were first defeated in the morning hours of 26/03/2018 when they came out of their trenches in Yuai and attacked the SPLA IO fighters of Sector 3, Division 8 in Payai.”
In Nyirol County, Lam said that “On 26/03/2018, another attack was also registered in Nyirol where the enemy attacked the SPLA IO position in Guer Payam of western Nyirol county.”
Lam further accused the government of attacking their defensive position on 23 March at saying “the regime’s militias under the command of the so called Brig. Gen. Francis Odera Otto attacked our defensive position in and around Magwi killing two of our soldiers.”
The statement called upon the CTSAMM and UNMISS to investigate the incidents with immediate effects and hold those responsible accountable and urged all SPLA IO forces to “be alert and vigilant as the regime steps up its anti peace campaign to derail the HLRF process.”
For his part, the SPLA-iG military spokesman Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang accused the opposition of beginning the rainy season offensive operation. He said the rebels under Riek Machar and Lam Akol attacked them in four states.
“Rebels loyal to Riek Machar and Lam Akol began the long awaited Rainy Season Offensive Operations against the national army’s defensive positions in four out of the 32 States” read the statement posted on his social media Facebook page.
Lul also accused the opposition of caring out attacks in Kej-okeji in Yei River, Latjor, Bieh and Fashoda states.
The government spokesman also urged the CTSAMM to investigate the “rebel escalation of hostilities”
He “its unfortunate that the rebel could not allow the people of South Sudan in general and Christians in particular to celebrate Palm Sunday Peace fully.”
he also accuse the rebels of “once again demonstrated flagrant disregard to Christians’ Holiday.”
