Juba, South Sudan
August 16, 2021—The leadership of SPLM/A-IO under the chairmanship of the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has rubbished the allegation that their forces launched an attack against the SPLA-IO Magenis faction allied to senior opposition commander Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.
In a response to the report published earlier by the SPLA-IO -Kitgwang military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng, the SPLM/A-IO leadership under Dr. Riek Machar Teny has denied the claim and urges the public to treat the news as a “mere propaganda”.
William Gatjiath earlier morning posted on his Facebook page informing the public that their forces were attacked in Tabaldi by the SPLA-IO forces loyal to country’s first vice president, Machar.
In a statement extended to Nyamilepedia, Machar’s Press Secretary, Mr. Puok Both Baluang, refutes the information that their forces launched an offensive on Magenis-based IO faction of Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual.
“The SPLM/A (IO) would like to refute categorically the immature statement made by the Kit Gwang group spokesperson, Brig. Gen. William Gatjiath Deng, today August 16, 2021 on his Facebook Page, alleging that the SPLA (IO) forces has attacked their forces in Tabaldi which about 25 kilometers from Magenis in Upper Nile State”, Puok said in a statement.
According to the statement, the SPLA (IO) forces in Magenis, Upper Nile State, are committed to the ceasefire; however, he says they reserve the right to natural self-defense.
Puok says the report made by William Gatjiath was not only unfounded but it was also intended to cause insecurity in the area.
“The SPLM/A (IO) would like to assure the public that there was no any attack anywhere. This is a fabricated information and propaganda which aimed to destabilize the area”, Puok added in a statement.
It is not the first time for the SPLA-IO forces of Dr. Machar to have of launching offensives on Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual forces; however, Machar faction has never accepted the responsibility.
The supporters of the SPLA/SPLM-IO worldwide urges the two sides to resort to peaceful means of resolving the unfolding differences instead of pursuing military means!
