Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) has refuted allegations by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) that it is involved in boat hijacking in Jonglei and Unity states.
This comes after SSPDF spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang released a statement Friday and claimed that the army received credible intelligence and complaints from various entities confirmed that fighters from the SPLA-IO and the White Army have commandeered several vessels in Fangak and Leer Counties in Jonglei and Unity states, respectively.
In response, the SPLMA-IO Spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, denied the claim and called it “baseless”.
“The SPLA-IO would also like to dismiss the false accusation made by the SSPDF spokesperson yesterday, 2/05/2025, that the SPLA-IO detained boats belonging to the United Nations and some businessmen in Adok. This is baseless,” Lam said.
“The SPLA-IO didn’t hijack boats or demand money. The boats are in Adok port for a reason best known to the businessmen,” added the spokesperson.
On Friday, the SSPDF threatened a punitive aerial action if the hijackers did not release the boats. Lam confirmed that an aerial bombardment was launched in Fangak in the early hours of Saturday.
“Today, 3/05/2025, at about 5:00 AM, the SSPDF air-raided the SPLA-IO controlled area of Old Fangak, killing four (4) civilians and injuring 25 others; three of whom are Sudanese Nationals (traders). The bombardment also destroyed a health centre operated by MSF,” Lam stated.
The SPLA-IO also claimed that it received confirmed reports of conscription in the village of Sindiru along Juba-Lobonok road, where the SSPDF forcefully took young men, including children to be used as fighters, terming it “acts of crime that should be investigated.”
On a separate development, Mr Lam claimed that on 30/04/2025, the SSPDF from Pagak and Maiwut launched a heavy attack on the SPLA IO military barracks in Wangkurbii and Wechtutbuor, adding that the attack was repulsed.
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