The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State Wednesday morning confirmed an alleged attack by the SSPDF forces on it base in Kapile Payam in Wau County.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Watho-Lelo of Jur River County, SPLA-IO Maj Gen Majok Tawaltawal said fighting intensified in Kapile early morning and that gunshot sounds were still being heard.
This appeared as a continuation of an earlier fighting involving the government forces and the opposition group, which erupted this month in Nagero County of Western Equatoria, he said.
“They arrived in Kapile this morning in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State. We are hearing gunshot sounds and that they are on the way to our location,” said Tawaltawal.
“I don’t have the phone number of our governor to contact him about this new war,” he said.
“The Revitalize Peace Agreement stipulated that forces remain at their bases. The opening of roads requires no use of bullets,” he said.
The army general said the road from Wau to Western Equatoria State was open.
“The road is open for those traveling from Wau through Bazia to Tambura,” he said.
Tawaltawal questioned the implementation of the peace agreement in the face of such attacks.
Nagero County Commission Henry Bangada Assaya confirmed that last evening, the Division Six commander of SSPDF left Nagero to Mbo where the fighting started recently.
“Yes, the head of division left to Mbo. We told him to withdraw his forces from Mbo to Tambura or Yambio and we will talk to the leaders of SPLA-IO and other peace partners too,” said Assaya.
“When he left here, he started firing shots near the town up to Mbo and when he reached Mbo, this morning, we received a report that he was fighting there with the SPLA-IO of Western Bahr el- Ghazal,” Assaya confirmed.
The commissioner called on the National Government to tell the SSPDF division commander to withdraw the forces from Mbo.
Attempts to reach SSPDF for comments were not immediately successful.
Separately, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) condemned the armed clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA/IO) in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
Speaking during a CTSAMVM Technical Committee Meeting in Juba on Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, Chairperson of CTSAMVM, expressed concern over the clashes.
“For the first time in my tenure as Chairman, I regret that I cannot say the ceasefire’s integrity has been upheld across South Sudan. I refer specifically to the armed clashes between two signatory parties along the boundary between Western Equatoria State and Western Bahr El Ghazal,” he said.
“CTSAMVM condemns this series of armed exchanges between the two signatory parties and appeals to both sides to exercise control over their forces. I remind both parties of their responsibility to lead by example and resolve grievances through dialogue and mediation,” he stated.
He also reiterated the importance of strengthening existing security arrangements, echoing comments made by the RJMEC Interim Chairperson following an incident in Juba at the end of November.