At least two soldiers from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have been killed in an attack by SPLA-IO forces in Wau County, Western Bahr el-Ghazal State, according to local officials.
George Wajok Tunga, the Commissioner of Wau County, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the incident occurred on 20 February in Tirka Payam, Nyeke Boma. He said six SSPDF soldiers had been on a 60-mile journey on foot when they encountered civilians on a hunting mission.
The civilians initially fled but were reassured by the soldiers that they meant no harm. However, one of the civilians reportedly alerted forces from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), who then launched an attack on the government troops.
“After the attack, these soldiers ran towards the riverside in Majiu North Bazia Payam, where they faced another attack that resulted in the death of another soldier,” Commissioner Tunga explained.
He added that three soldiers remain missing and called on SPLA-IO forces in Bazia to assist in locating them and recovering the bodies of those killed.
The Commissioner condemned the attack as a violation of Chapter Two of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, which was signed in 2018 to end years of civil war in South Sudan.
“We strongly condemn such actions because they signal a violation of the peace agreement,” he said. “Any violation in the area pushes the country back into insecurity and forces civilians to flee their homes. I am calling on the IO forces to respect the agreement.”
Commissioner Tunga also accused SPLA-IO forces in Wau of confiscating three vehicles, including one belonging to the United Nations. He warned against allowing the recent instability in Western Equatoria to spread to Western Bahr el-Ghazal.
“We should not let what happened in Nagero happen in Bazia. We are currently hosting 321 households under difficult conditions,” he said, urging peace partners to intervene before the situation escalates further.
Efforts to reach SPLA-IO representatives for comment were unsuccessful.