Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A former South Sudan main armed opposition SPLA-IO commander who has now aligned himself with South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has warned that fighting the security situation in the country’s Upper Nile state is tense and fragile and that conflict can erupt anytime.
Last week, opposition-nominated commissioner of Longechuk County of Upper Nile state issued a statement saying that the security situation was good and no tensions among the peace parties, just a week after fighting between soldiers belonging to the SPLA-IO and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces.
But in a statement on Saturday, Gen. Gatwech Gony Geng, a senior former member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) who switched side last year from the group to join the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces said the claim of calm in the area by the commissioner is false and accused the commissioner of looting properties.
“The Statement released by Dak Tut Dey, the Commissioner of Longechuk County about the Security situation in the area is NOT TRUE. The civil population of sub-sections of Chienyajani, Chien Reang and Thiang Baar both SPLA/M I.O. loyalists and SSPDF under Maj. General Khor Chuol Giet are now leaving in fear. Some of them are displaced internally in the County,” Gen. Geng said.
“Why a Commissioner is looting the civilians’ properties? The houses in Majiok, Wechlual, Malou and Bordit were looted,” he revealed,” adding that “The situation in Longechuk County is tense and the security situation is fragile. Fighting can erupt anytime.”
The statement mentioned that the opposition-appointed commissioner of Longechuk has asked for reinforcement from SPLA-IO in Nasir which it said will be used in attacked South Sudan People’s Defense Forces soldiers under President Salva Kiir Mayardit and dismissed that there is calm in the area.
“Commissioner Dak Tut Dey has ordered for reinforcement from Nasir and a force is sent to Longechuk by Maj. Gen. Tut Riek to fight SSPDF Forces under General Khor Chuol Giet and the civilians loyal to President Kiir,”
“Finally, let the Commissioner not to mislead people of South Sudan that there is stability in Longechuk while looting is taking place until now. Col. Gabriel Dobuol Tiach is now in Watber to collect maize in houses and other useful properties to be transported to Mathiang by Dak Tut Dey,” he added.
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