By William Madouk Garang
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) had denied military confrontation claim with SPLA-IO Kitgwang splinter group allied to Simon Gatwech Dual.
SPLA-IO Spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel dismissed the claim as he reiterates his being busy with the implementation of the peace agreement.
“None of our forces are engaged in any armed confrontation with Gatwech’s army. We didn’t attack their forces in Tonga as they proclaimed. So, it is a complete lie that cannot really hold water” Col. Lam stated.
The Spokesperson also rubbished the allegation that SPLA-IO has links with the white army militia. According to him, the white army are just armed youth who are not affiliated to SSPDF, SPLA-IO or even Kitgwang.
“The white army is just a tribal youth group who organized themselves to defend their territory, their people or defend themselves against anybody else including SPLA-IO. We never even clash with white army or forces of Gatwech Dual. So, we don’t know what they are aiming at” Lam questioned.
He asserted that taking this country back to war is not what the SPLM-IO is after apart from peace implementation.
On Thursday last week, SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction accused SPLA-IO under Riek Machar of attacking their military base in Tonga of Upper Nile State.
Brig-Gen Alfred Gach Thot, the spokesperson of SPLA-IO Kitgwang said that forces loyal to Machar attacked their military base in Tunja on the 14th of December 2022 at noon time – claiming having lost little compared to a huge defeat to the attackers.
He had called on the African Union, international community and IGAD to condemn what he called a proxy war backed by both Salva Kiir and Riek Machar.