The rebel group South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by Gen. Paul Malong has announced that its field commander had been captured by government forces after a firefight in Mayom County of Unity State on Monday.

The opposition group, in a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, said: “SSUF/A field commander in Unity State, Lt. Col. James Cherey Geek, has been captured by a government force in a dawn ambush in RuathLual Village of Mayom County in Unity State.” 

“Lt. Col. Cherey had traveled with a few soldiers from our base to Ruathlual village to visit his family on Monday, 05 July 2021. Immediately he arrived at his house, Lt. Col. Geek was located and attacked by the government forces in a brief fight that lasted for 30 minutes. He was, however, outnumbered and captured along with his bodyguard,” the press release added.

In March, representatives of the government and of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) faction recommitted to a “cessation of hostilities agreement” signed on December 21, 2017.

Gen. Paul Malong and Pagan Amum are both leading the faction of the rebel umbrella, South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA). The faction is made up of two organizations, the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) and the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A).

According to the outfit, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has been attacking their positions in the recent past despite the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the two parties. 

“Over the last few days, SSUF/A has witnessed renewed aggression on our bases from the regime army in a brazen disregard to the Cessation of hostilities and ceasefire agreement --- signed between SSOMA and government in January 2020 and the ongoing Rome peace initiative. These unprovoked actions by the regime prove their unwillingness to observe the ceasefire agreement,” the SSUF/A statement read.

The rebel group called upon the mediators, the region, and the international community to ensure the safety of their captured commander, Cherey Geek, and his bodyguard.

 “These continual attacks on our forces across the country may lead to an all-out confrontation with SSPDF if they do not respect the ceasefire deal we have signed together,” the rebel group warned.

Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang could not immediately be reached for comment.