By Emelda Siama John Lopula
The Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) have denied the latest report warning of a possible outbreak of conflict in Upper Nile region.
The SSPDF and SPLA-IO spokespersons were responding to the Small Arms Survey report, titled “Upper Nile prepares to return to war” released on a Thursday which warned of a possible outbreak of war in the area of Upper Nile region which has been experiencing series of armed clashes.
The Report said, fighters and the main opposition forces have been mobilizing this month.
According to the report, Agwelek fighters are allegedly backed by SSPDF while the SPLA-IO forces are backed by the white Army fighters.
It noted that the Agwelek forces of Johnson Olony allied to the SSPDF were recruited at west bank of the White Nile and have moved fighters from Magenis to Wau Shilluk area where their barges were formerly anchored and the further build-up of Agwelek forces in Pakang, Panyikang County.
“The Agwelek, the SPLA-IO and the white Army forces were mobilizing youth in northern Jonglei and southern Upper Nile. The SPLA-IO has reinforced positions along the White Nile where Agwelek offensives are expected,” the Small Arms Survey claimed.
However, when contacted for comment, SPLA-IO spokesperson Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel declined to answer repeated phone calls by this reporter but he earlier on told Eye radio that the SPLA-IO has no intention for war.
“We are not for war, let me repeat this very clearly that the SPLA-IO has got no intention of waging war against anybody or the regime,” he said.
“Currently, we have the first vice president with all our ministers and some of the state ministers with the regime, why would we even destabilize our own state, so those things are just meant to cause more violence and intimidation in this country,” he continued.
Lam claimed that “These are youth who took up arms during these conflicts to make sure their properties, their people; their children are safe from any foreign body including the SPLA-IO or SSPDF and they defend their territories and as long as they are at risk, they fight back,”
Meanwhile the SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said that he has no substantial information about the report.
“I have no substantial information on my side to support this early warning, especially on the side of SSPDF as the National Army but of course it’s part of their mandate to give early warning,” Ruai said.
“I can’t speak for Agwelek, I have been saying from time to time that Agwelek is not yet fully under the control and the command of the leadership of SSPDF because we have not yet implemented the peace agreement we signed with them,” he added.
No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper efforts to reach out to the Agwelek forces under General Johnson Olony and the SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang declaration under General Simon Gatwech for reaction to the report proved futile by press time as we couldn’t get hold of their contacts.