By Bida Elly David
Former comedian “Feel Free,” turned rebel leader has narrowly escaped death after government forces launched an attack on his hideout.
In a statement released on Monday, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the spokesperson of the South Sudanese People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), said the attack took place on 1st June, this year.
“On June 1st, 2024, at 5:PM, our own mobile Infantry unit from 7th Infantry Brigade, 7th Infantry division, received actionable intelligence and as a result, launched a surprise attack on Feel Free’s hideout” partly reads the statement.
The army spokesperson hinted that the attack was at the foot of Bio Mountain, Mangalli Payam, Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State.
According to the statement, two of the combatants under Feel Free’s battalion, known as the PFM fighters, were killed in the engagement, while the leader and two of his bodyguards narrowly escaped.
“The brief engagement resulted in 2 PFM fighters getting killed in action while the outlawed leader narrowly cheated death with two bodyguards,” the statement added.
The SSPDF spokesperson underscored that the military unit is still in “hot pursuit” of Feel Free, with the aim of either neutralizing the “high-value target” or arresting him to face justice.
Feel Free, who was once a popular entertainer, defected from the industry to take up arms against the government, for reasons that remain unclear.