March 17, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition has condemned the recent attacks on their base in Ketbek in Nasir by some members of SSPDF on Sunday.
The SPLA-IO Deputy Military Spokesperson, Col Lam Paul Gabriel said that the attack was carried out by some anti-peace elements within the SSPDF base in Nasir.
“On Monday, 15h March, 2021, the SPLA-IO defensive position of Ketbek in Nasir surprisingly came under aggressive attack from some anti-peace elements within the SSPDF base in Nasir. They burned down Ketbek base to ashes making the SPLA-IO to tactically withdraw to Pananyang in respect of the R-ARCSS,” said Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO Deputy Military Spokesperson.
He said that the fight was between the SSPDF and the Koat civilians where it resulted in burning of civilians’ houses to ashes.
“The SPLA-IO is aware of the start of the clashes between the SSPDF and civilians in Koat on Sunday 14 March, 2021 where they also burnt civilian’s houses and destroyed other properties. The SPLA-IO would like to make it clear that its forces in Ketbek didn’t start or influence the fight in Koat but wonders why its base was attacked and destroyed at this time when the majority of the suffering South Sudanese want peace.”
The opposition army deputy spokesperson acknowledges the effort by SSPDF high command to bring violators to justice while calling on international bodies to investigate the incident.
“The SPLA-IO acknowledged the effort from the SSPDF high command to bring those responsible for the violations in Ketbek to account; however, its calling upon the JDB, CTSAMVM and UNMISS to investigate this violation as mandated by the R-ARCSS.”
He said that the SPLM-IO is committed to the implementation of the Security Arrangement and reserves the right to self-defense when aggressed.
