By William Madouk
Kitgwang faction, led by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, has denied allegations that its forces have looted humanitarian trucks in Uror County, Jonglei State.
Early this month, Nyirol county information officer, Mr. Biel Jiek, accused the Kitgwang faction of looting trucks belonging to a non-governmental organization known as IMA.
According to Mr. Jiek, the looted vehicles en route Lou Nuer area from Bor were loaded with school supplies, but he did not disclose details of the items in the trucks.
“On June 1, 2023, some armed military came from Uror County and Pieri Payam from the site of Gen. Simon Gatwech and looted two cars in Uror County and offloaded them in Karam Payam,” Mr. Jiek said.
He stated that the looters escaped to Limuon and Bariak Bomas to hide the stolen vehicles; however, the two cars were recovered later.
Nyirol County leadership condemned the action and requested the government of Jonglei State seek for alternatives to settle the situation.
However, the military spokesperson of the SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang Declaration, Brig-Gen. Alfred Gach Thot, bitterly dismissed the claims, saying that no single soldier left the military barracks.
“I am not aware of that incident, and our military commanders at Pieri military base are not aware of this incident,” Thot said.
“I contacted them (commanders at Pieri), and they said there is no officer(s) who left the military barrack,” he added.
General Thot urged the Nyirol County authorities to probe the matter and find out who those armed groups are and their location of residence.