South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir lashed out Monday at Lobonok citizens over harboring rebels allied to General Thomas Cirillo, referring to them as “rebel collaborators.”
“You said you are for peace, but I can say that you are not for peace. Thomas Cirillo would have not established his training camp here for you to be trained in his camp if you were for peace,” Kiir said at a rally during an SPLM retreat organized in Lobonok county of Jubek State on Monday.
“You know very well that they are here. They are involved in gold mining and you go to them and talk to them,” he added.
Lobonok, the home village of Vice President James Wani Igga, is located about 30 kilometers south of Juba on the east bank of the Nile.
Last month, the rebel group National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo accused government troops and SPLA-IO fighters of launching joint attacks on its base in Lobonok area, an accusation denied by the opposition.