The SPLA-In Opposition has rejected allegations by a local government official in South Sudan's Northern Bahr al Ghazal state that they have received assistance from Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Aweil North county commissioner Kon Angok Kon had claimed that RSF militia, which is backed by the Sudanese government in Khartoum, has supported SPLA-IO rebels under command of General Dau Auterjong.

"The accusation against the SPLA-In Opposition by local authority in Aweil North is not realistic," said SPLA-IO spokesperson Dickson Gatluak in response to the accusations. "IO forces are getting neither military assistance from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) nor join operation with Sudanese government."

"Mr. Kon Angok Kon needs to verify his information on the ground; otherwise he would look like someone with no reliable sources," Gatluak continued. "The ongoing operation in Aweil is only pure SPLA/IO forces involve under command of SPLA-IO general Dau Auterjong."

Gatluak added that recent claims of government forces capturing opposition soldiers are "untrue and unfounded."

"It’s the government losing soldiers to IO," he countered. "Two days ago, Lieutenant Colonel Deng Deng Aliel, defected with 200 soldiers from the SPLA-Juba faction and joined our forces in Bhar al Ghazal. He defected from Gaij, a local military administrative headquarters in Bhar al Ghazal."

Related:

Aweil North leader says Rapid Support Forces helping Machar's rebels (15 Jun.)

Juba claims capture of nine SPLA-IO officers in Northern Bahr al Ghazal (12 Jun.)