BILPAM – The SSPDF spokesperson Gen. Lul Ruai said 22 soldiers died from both the army and rebel sides during clashes this week, as he announced the government’s recapture of Katiba town in Mundri East County, Western Equatoria State, from allied SPLA-IO and NAS rebels.
Lul said nine government soldiers and 13 SPLA-IO troops died in separate clashes – with the deadliest being the confrontation involving the Necessary Unified Forces, and VIP Protection force deployed at Athony village in Twic County.
The troops deployed near the Abyei Box experienced internal disturbances caused by misunderstanding between two officers, Lul said.
“The dispute over a woman degenerated into deadly armed clashes engulfing the market, checkpoint and the main Barracks at Athony,” he narrated.
“The clashes, which were not politically motivated caused the lives of 14 men; 8 from SSPDF and 6 from SPLA-IO with 5 more government soldiers sustaining gunshot wounds.”
Citing a statement of the Commissioner of Twic County in Warrap State, Lul said a civilian was also killed in crossfire.
On the same day, he said, SSPDF soldiers on “administrative move” were ambushed by SPLA-IO rebels at Nyaguagi and Maringi villages in Nagero County in Western Equatoria State.
“The government forces broke through all the two ambushes and succeeded in neutralising 7 outlaws.”
“Prior to waylaying SSPDF convoy, the SPLA-IO rebels made obstacles by felling down trees, then placing huge logs and branches across the road.”
The army spokesperson said the NAS and SPLA-IO soldiers killed one more government soldier during fightinh for the recapture of Katiba Town, the administrative Hqs of Mundri East County in Western Equatoria State.
Horrific pictures in Nagero
The SPLA-IO on Wednesday accused the SSPDF of executing civilians in Nagero County, Western Equatoria, after gruesome picture of dead people in civilian clothes surfaced online.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel made the accusations after SSPDF spokesperson refuted the social media reports that the government forces killed civilians in Nagero
Addressing media on Wednesday, Gen Lul dismissed the information on killing of civilians and instead claimed that members of the SPLA-IO continue to attack government while wearing civilian attires.
“We did not move from house to house eliminating civilian. I would like to make it clear that in Western Equatoria and especially Negero County, most of the SPLA-IO soldiers that are there do not have uniforms they are in Civilian Clothes and even they one that were engaging us were in civilians,” Lul said.
In response, SPLA-IO spokesperson Lam said the group “read with dismay the report from SSPDF Spokesperson confirming the unprofessional operations by the SSPDF in Nagero.”
According to him, the army spokesperson’s statement acknowledges the execution of civilians by their soldiers in Nagero claiming they were killed because they dress like SPLA-IO.
“The SSPDF has not only become an anti peace force but also a terror organization that targets members of particular communities and also civilians in SPLA-IO areas,” he said.
“The SPLA-IO calls upon the International Community to brand the SSPDF as a terror organization with all their allies for targeting particular communities, blocking Humanitarian access to particular communities, recruiting children from targeted communities, destroying civilians property and killing innocent civilians just because they look like SPLA-IO.”