An SPLA officer has accused a tribal militia supported by the Juba government of carrying out targeted killings against Shilluk tribesmen in the Melut area after the recapture of the town from opposition hands on Tuesday evening

The army officer who preferred anonymity told Radio Tamazuj today that a tribal militia fighting alongside government troops killed an SPLA soldier from the Shilluk tribe and an elderly Shilluk man aged 85 on Tuesday evening.

The tribal militia started to target members of the Shilluk tribe after General Olony’s forces fought the government in Malakal and Melut areas, according to the same source. The SPLA officer criticized the targeted killings on tribal lines in Melut area.

Meanwhile, Col. Philip Aguer, SPLA spokesman denied the claims. He told Radio Tamazuj that there were no any targeted killings in Melut. “These are lies being circulated by some individuals,” he said. However, he confirmed government forces were searching for remnants of Olony’s forces in Melut.

Meanwhile, a commander for the opposition-aligned forces of General Johnson Olony said that clashes are continuing in Akoka between government forces led by former militia commander Yohanis Okiech and those of the defected SPLA General Johnson Olony.

Brigadier Nyagual Ajak, the spokesman of Olony’s forces, confirmed that they were fighting the government forces for three days in the area. He further said the fighting resulted in the killing of several soldiers from the two sides.

Nyagual pointed out that there were clashes yesterday around Malakal between their forces and Dinka militia from Akoka, but they were repulsed.

File photo