Jonglei State, South Sudan
October 1, 2021—The forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army- In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) under the FVP Dr. Riek Machar Teny and holdout opposition forces loyal to defiant commander, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual have reportedly engaged in a skirmish at Pieri area of Uror County in Jonglei State.
In a statement obtained by Nyamilepedia, the Kitgwang military spokesman, Brig.Gen. William Gatjiath Deng claims that the forces loyal to Country’s first vice president launched what he called “unsuccessful offensive” on their barrack in Pieri this morning.
“SPLA-IO would like to announce the fresh attack to the public that Dr, Riek Machar’s forces led by Maj. General Michael Wal Nyak from Motot launched an unsuccessful attack to the SPLA (IO) forces under the leadership of Interim Chairperson and Commander in Chief, Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual early this morning at Peiri at 2 AM,” William Gatjiath Deng, the military spokesperson for Gatwech’s faction told media.
Gatjiath claimed that their forces, who are reorganizing themselves in Pieri of Jonglei state after defecting from Machar, were attacked but they repulsed the attackers.
According to Lt. Colonel. Khor Nyang Mabor, a commander with Machar’s SPLA-IO 3rd infantry division in Jongle State, at least 20 officers defected from their base in Pieri but nine of them returned back to them .
“So, this morning what had happened the community leaders went to convince them to leave their area but they responded aggressively, fighting the community up to Pieri. So, as SPLA-IO forces they responded and pushed them to their area.” Lt. Col. Khor said.
He also confirmed that the fight was ongoing on at the outskirts of Yuai town and that details about the casualties between the two engaging forces remain unknown.
“After they were repulsed, our forces came back to Pieri. But the local youth, White Army have been pushing them towards Yuai,” he added.
The SPLA-IO Military Spokesperson, under Dr. Riek Machar, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel denied all claims and said Pieri is under their full control and none of Kitgwang forces exist.
According to Lam Paul Gabriel what happened was that some family members of Gen. Gatwech Dual ran away from Pieri to Motot for their own safety.
Last week, Gen. Simon Gatwech declared that he won’t bother himself to dialogue with his former Commander-In-Chief, Dr. Riek Machar, about peace within IO citing five alleged attacks carried out against his forces by SPLA-IO forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar.
