By William Madouk
National Salvation Front (NAS), led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo, has reportedly turned its movement into a gold mine enterprise, South Sudan Defense Forces (SSPDF) said.
Maj. Gen Lul Ruai Koang, the military spokesperson revealed that intelligence evidence obtained by the army indicated that the rebels are into a lucrative illegal gold mining activities and trading business.
“Now Gen. Cirilo has turned his rebellion into business; we got intelligence that he targets areas that are rich in gold, and he had even purchased some equipment,” Gen. Lul claimed.
According to the army mouthpiece, NAS leader goes to do illegal mining; once he mines, he gets his minerals and goes and sells them, “this is what sustains him, wherever he is,” he added.
Gen. Lul argued that Gen. Cirilo wants to prolong his rebellion because of the illicit gold mining business, where he gets millions of dollars.
However, the army spokesperson did not elaborate where specifically, the rebels conduct their mining activity and the market or linkage of the trade, let alone the partners in the business.
Though recent attacks on innocent civilians along Morobo-Yei Road have been attribute to the NAS rebel outfits that operate in the area.
The havoc on Bishop Amos Data Elinama, where the man of God was ambushed and dragged out of his car, setting it ablaze along Morobo-Kaya Road, is one of a typical purported incident of the NAS menace.
Paul Yugusuk, a clergy, attested to this claim that elements of Gen. Cirilo’s group were responsible for the attack on the bishop, an account the NAS denied, terming it cheap’ propaganda.
Nevertheless, Gen. Lul alleged that he has audio evidence of Gen. Cirilo, clearly revealing that the NAS leaders had intended to kill Bishop Elias Taban and not Amos Data.
“The only credible armed opposition we know of is NAS; the rest are just armed on paper. NAS is causing us problems in some parts of central and western Equatoria” Gen. Lul noted.
“When they burned down the car for the archbishop, and the primary intention was not that bishop—it was Bishop Elias Taban, like it was clearly stated by the NAS rebel leader,” he continued.
The Army spokesman claimed that in the audio, the leader of NAS accuses Bishop Elias Taban of trying to dismantle his movement; he however wondered why they ended up burning vehicles for the other bishop.
“But in our situation bishop Elias wanted to bring peace, so, I don’t know what it is – that is irritating Gen. Thomas to be so mad about the peace initiative bishop Elias is trying to hold?” he quizzed.
However, NAS, a non-signatory to the revitalized peace, has yet to respond to the matter.