SPLA-IO troops allied to former first vice president and rebel leader Riek Machar have denied accusations made by government officials that they are blocking roads in Yei River State.
This comes after the Commissioner of Mugwo County Natalino Lasuba said that the local residents who are predominantly farmers have been prevented access to health, market and other essential services by the SPLA-IO rebels in the area.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, Wai Godwil, spokesman for the SPLA-IO faction in the Equatoria region, denied the accusations, claiming their forces are encouraging free movement of citizens in the area.
He instead accused the government soldiers and allied militia of targeting innocent people in the Yei area. “The allegations are baseless, because what is happening is that the government troops are killing innocent civilians, and that’s why the civilians are not interested to enter the territories controlled by the government,” he said.
“So it is not the SPLA-IO forces that are blocking the road, the SPLA-IO forces are very friendly to the civilians, and that is the reason why we are in the bushes. It is our responsibility to respect and protect the innocent civilians,” he added.
File photo: South Sudan-Congo border/Radio Tamazuj