Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) has refuted claims that it was behind a road ambush which led to the killing of a Somali national and setting ablaze a truck along the Juba–Terekeka road.
On Monday, Maj Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the Spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), claimed in a statement that the attack which happened last week was linked to the opposition forces.
In a counterstatement, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the Spokesperson of SPLA-IO, expressed “dismay” at the claim made by the government military spokesman.
“The SPLA-IO read with dismay the baseless accusations made by the SSPDF spokesperson trending the social media that the SPLA-IO forces ambushed civilian trucks along Juba Terekeka Road,” read the statement.
Describing the statement as “fabrication”, Mr Lam claimed that the SSPDF have persistently engaged in unruly activities such as robbery along several highways across the country.
“This is a fabrication to cover up the SSPDF’s usual criminal activities along these routes. The SSPDF have been robbing civilians not only along the Juba – Bar El Gazal road but also the Juba -Nimule road and always blames either the NAS or the SPLA-IO forces,” Lam said.
“The SPLA-IO is a national movement with civilians at heart, regardless of tribe, nationality or association. Our forces don’t target civilians, whether at their residence or on the roads,” he added.
The Spokesman claimed that the South Sudan army was using the opposition military as a shield for the atrocities committed.
“The SSPDF should take full responsibility for whatever happened to those trucks and their occupants and avoid using the SPLA-IO as a scapegoat to justify further attacks,” Lam stated.
The accusations from both armies come amid a diplomatic visit by a joint high-level delegation from the African Union Commission and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which is expected in Juba to discuss the current state of affairs in the country.
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