The SPLA has denied any tension between the government and deputy chief of staff for logistics Lt Gen Thomas Cirilo Swaka over grabbing of Bari land.
Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said Monday at a press conference held at Bilpham that Cirilo had not threatened to leave the army for Rajaf in order to fight land grabbers. He said this allegation made against Cirilo is full of “inconsistencies and incorrect information.”
“As a professional military officer, Gen Thomas Cirilo does not receive directives from his community to confront land grabbers who had threatened indigenous people of the area,” Lul said. “Therefore the statement was untrue and unfound.”
He further denied that President Salva Kiir, Vice President Wani Igga, and army chief Paul Malong as well as other senior officials paid any visits to Cirilo over the matter.
Lul threatened media outlets who wrote such stories with legal action.
Cirilo has yet to make any public comment regarding the alleged tension, or regarding Lul’s statement. He was not present at the press conference.
Related:
Row of SPLA land grabbing in Central Equatoria (30 Mar.)