The spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has said the fighting and resultant unrest which started on Sunday and continued through Monday in Pochalla town in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) was triggered when armed Anyuak youth attacked the army’s positions.
During an exclusive interview with Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Major General Lul Ruai said the situation in Pochalla is still tense and that the SSPDF soldiers are still in their trenches.
“Some of the armed local youth are still in the bushes around the town and others have returned to their homes so there is nothing new,” he said.
On the genesis of the problem, Gen. Ruai said it has a long history of political issues and differences.
“The whole problem started a few months ago (June) when armed Anyauk youth killed the commissioner (Samuel Ojulu Ochalla) of Pochalla County. The commissioner was newly appointed and left the headquarters and went to report to his county but the armed youth told him not to go to Pochalla and said they did not want him as their commissioner,” he explained. “They eventually attacked and killed him and some of our SSPDF soldiers including a captain of the National Security Service (NSS).
“So, it is these same armed youth who attacked our forces because of the same political issues,” Ruai added.
He also said that an SSPDF officer, now the late Colonel [Joseph] Okony Okwom Othow, who was the commander in the area and was transferred refused to report to his new station and instead took command of the local armed youth.
“He (Col. Okony) was transferred in May but it seems he was not happy with being moved and instead of going to the place of his new deployment, he went to one of the residential areas in the town and started mobilizing the armed Anuyuak youth and became their self-styled commander,” Gen. Ruai said. “When they attacked the SSPDF on Sunday, Col. Okony was killed in the ensuing fighting. You can get more details from the authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) or you can ask the local authorities in Pochalla what their problem is.”
“When we were attacked, we remained in our tranches and even now the SSPDF forces in Pochalla have not moved out of their positions because the armed youth are still about and shooting,” he added.
According to Gen. Ruai, the army does not want any more trouble than has already happened but that the youth are the ones who attacked.
“We want to tell the youth that there is no need to fight and if they have a problem with the government, it should be resolved with the politicians,” he said. “We have no problem with the Anyuak youth. We shall stay in our defensive positions and defend ourselves when attacked. We appeal to the Anyuak elders to tell the youth to stop fighting.”
About casualties, the SSPDF mouthpiece said there were deaths and injuries reported on the side of the armed youth but that he did not have exact figures.
“I heard that some civilians were killed and injured but you can get better details from the local authorities,” Ruai said. “On the side of SSPDF, we have not yet received proper information about casualties because the telephone connectivity in the area is poor. When I get more details, I will inform you.”
“My message is that let the civilians who fled the town return to their homes and the youth should stop fighting,” he concluded.