General Chol Thon Balok, governor of Eastern Nile State, denied Sunday he has played any role in armed clashes which erupted in the protection of civilians’ camp managed by the United Nations in Malakal.

Governor Chol, who is currently in Juba in response to call by President Salva Kiir for briefing about circumstances leading to armed clashes in Malakal, dismissed charges against him as “unfounded,” saying he would not tolerate seeing unarmed civilians being killed on his watch.

“You know I am a soldier and the work of the soldier world over is to fight an enemy, not civilians. The army is the protector of the civilians, their lives and their properties and this was why I was the first person to condemn what happened and called for investigation,” he said.

However, the UN Security Council has referred to 'credible reports' that SPLA soldiers in Malakal were involved in attacks on civilians in the Malakal PoC site after infiltrating the camp.

General Chol says he is willing to cooperate in a government investigation.

“I came here on Wednesday and met the president on Thursday. I briefed him on the general political and security situation in the state. I explained what happened in Malakal to him in details because I was there. I also accepted in principle to the president to cooperate and extend support to the investigation committee which has been formed by the government.”

The governor added, “I will now return to the state so that I go and prepare for reception of this committee. I welcome anybody who wants to inquire what happened, even you in the media, come and talk to people in Malakal so that you hear from people themselves.”

Related: 

Mass killing at UN protection site in S Sudan (18 Feb.)