A commander allied to the South Sudanese army pulled out his troops before the rebel assault on Bentiu today, weakening the defense of the Unity State capital, Sudan Tribune reports, citing military sources and the deputy governor.
Matthew Puljang, a commander in the South Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SSLM/A) led by Bapiny Monytuil, both of whom hail from the Bul Nuer tribe of Mayom County, helped secure the recapture of Bentiu in January alongside national army troops mobilized through Warrap State.
Although he fought against the South Sudanese government after independence, he was among a group of SSLM/A forces who accepted an amnesty offer by the president last year, agreeing to a plan to later reintegrate into the army.
Soon thereafter, the brother of SSLM/A leader Bapiny Monytuel, Joseph Nguen Monytuil, was appointed governor of Unity State in July 2013, replacing the Governor Taban Deng Gai, now a leading figure in the armed opposition.
Riek Machar, then the vice president of the country, objected strongly to the dismissal of Taban Deng. He was dismissed by the president along with the entire cabinet just weeks later.
Officials in the South Sudanese government are now alleging that the SSLA commander withdrew from Bentiu ahead of the latest rebel assault on the town, but a spokesman of SSLM/A says this is because Puljang’s troops lacked ammunition.
“Military sources claimed fighters under the command of Maj. Gen. Puljang Mathews withdrew from Rubkona on Tuesday without their knowledge making it possible for the rebels to quickly penetrate parts of the town without facing any armed resistance,” Sudan Tribune reports.
Gordon Buay, spokesperson of the faction to which Puljangs said, “Puljang did not defect. What happened is a negligent from Bilpam [SPLA headquarters] because they failed to take ammunition to our forces in Bentiu.”
He insisted the commanding officer was still fighting for the government.
However, the online daily also cited the deputy governor of the state Mabek Lang as confirming the withdrawal of the Puljang forces from the defense of the state capital, calling it a ‘discouraging development.’
Another official, the commissioner of Maban County, was asked about Matthew Puljang today. He told Radio Tamazuj the commander’s forces had been integrated into SPLA and made no further comment on the issue.
Photo: SSLA Commander Matthew Puljang addresses a crowd in Mayom, Unity State, early May 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)