Fighters from the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo accused the government army of attacking their bases in Central Equatoria State recently.
"On 14th March, the SSPDF [South Sudan People’s Defense Forces] attacked our defensive position in Loka. They moved from Loka and attacked our defensive position in Loka west," the rebel group's spokesman, Suba Samuel Manase, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday.
Suba further said government troops also attacked their bases on 15 March, saying the attacks occurred in Ombachi, Kojiko, and Latta areas.
"The SSPDF always move from their areas to loot citizens’ properties. We don’t know why the government forces are attacking our bases, but we are carrying out investigations into these attacks," he said.
He claimed that two SSPDF soldiers were killed and several others sustained injured during fighting in Loka. Suba revealed that one NAS soldier was also killed.
However, the rebel spokesman reiterated their comment to the cessation of the hostilities agreement signed by both sides on December 21, 2017, and to the Rome Declaration signed on January 20, 2020.
For his part, SSPDF deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Santo Domic denied the allegations and said their troops had not carried out attacks on NAS bases in Central Equatoria State.
"There was no fighting between the two sides. The allegations by NAS forces are just to cover up violations being committed by them," Santo Domic said.
"As government forces, we have received instructions from the leadership not to attack any rebel forces. We only fight in self-defense because to want to create a conducive environment for peace," he added.
The army deputy spokesman accused fighters from the National Salvation Front of committing human rights violations in parts of Central Equatoria State. Santo reiterated the army’s commitment to the cessation of the hostilities agreement signed on December 21, 2017.
In January 2020, the government signed a peace declaration with NAS and other holdout opposition groups. NAS is demanding a federal system of governance in South Sudan.
Federalism is a system of governance in which state or regional governments hold their own exclusive powers, which the national government cannot interfere with.