Sept 2, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — A South Sudanese rebel group led by the former Deputy Chief of South Sudan People Defense Force(SSPDF), Lt. Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka, does not regret the recent killing of the Vice president Dr. James Wani Igga’s bodyguards outside the capital, Juba.
In a press statement extended to Nyamilepedia Press, the leadership of the National Salvation Front/Army(NAS), accused the bodyguards of the Vice President, James Wani Igga, of trying to overrun their position and therefore they had to act in self-defence.
“The bodyguards of Vice President James Wani Igga involved in the recent incident were on military mission against NAS positions and are part of the notorious Tiger Division which was responsible for all kinds of human rights violations and war crimes.” Read part of the statement.
According to NAS statement, the SSPDF has been leading offensives on their positions burning down houses, killing, raping, torturing and displacing civilians.
“This has been a deliberate military offensive strategy targeting NAS defensive positions and the civil population with looting, killing, rape and burning of houses which consequently displaced thousands of civilians while others were uprooted from their villages and brought to areas under control of SSPDF,” NAS leadership reiterates.
In a statement that was intended to condemn the UK Ambassador to South Sudan Chris Trott, the National Salvation Front accused the SSPDF of constantly violating the Cessation of Hostilities agreement and committing war crimes in Equatorian region.
“The regime of Salva Kiir has been flagrantly violating the CoHA in broad daylight with South Sudan Defense Force (SSPDF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) attacking the civil population and NAS bases in several locations in Equatoria starting from the 5th April 2020,” they said.
According to NAS of Thomas Cirilo, the UK Ambassador should have condemned the regime forces and James Wani Igga for their actions instead of blaming their forces.
“The suffering people of South Sudan expected at least a condemnation of the regimes actions against civil populations and NAS position from H.E. Ambassador Chris Trott but all they got was a loud silence.
