By Yiep Joseph
South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) continue clashing despite repeated calls from peace monitors for a ceasefire.
The latest clash in Western Equatoria state, on Thursday follows other, a week ago. Previous clashes were reportedly over the removal of illegal checkpoints, a resolution of the recent governors’ forum.
In a press statement released on Thursday, SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang attributed the latest violation to the SPLA-IO.
“On February 6th, 2025, at 30PM, SSPDF’s joint security forces that were conducting vehicular patrols along Wau-Tonj Road were waylaid by rogue SPLA-IO soldiers at Kuberi Ngap, 8 miles southeast of Wau town,” he said in the statement.
“The area of unprovoked and unexpected ambush falls under the jurisdiction of Kwarijiena Payam, Jur River County, Western Bahr El Ghazal State,” he claimed.
However, efforts to reach Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO Spokesperson, to respond to the allegation were not successful by press time.
Lul claimed that some SSPDF soldiers lost their lives while others were injured during the confrontation.
“One SSPDF soldier paid the ultimate price while two others sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds,” he said.
He claimed that the routine patrols were meant to prevent the reestablishment of illegal checkpoints and roadblocks.
“SPLA-IO surprisingly continues to violently resist implementation of presidential orders on the removal and prevention of re-establishment of illegal checkpoints and roadblocks countrywide,” he claimed.
“The command of SSPDF calls upon CTSSAM to investigate and hold to account SPLA-IO soldiers for unjustified killings and wounding of SSPDF forces implementing orders from the Presidency, of which their C-IN-C and chairman was a signatory,” he added.
Despite the existing ceasefire agreement, renewed clashes have been reported between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, and other areas including parts of Western Equatoria.
Both sides have engaged in mutual accusations regarding responsibility for the violations.
These incidents come despite repeated calls for a cessation of hostilities, including a recent appeal by Maj. Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, Chairperson of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), during its 50th meeting.
Gen. Bitew urged all forces to prioritize dialogue over violence in resolving disputes.
Last month SSPDF and SPLA-IO clashed in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.
The two sides have presented contrasting narratives of the events that led to the clashes.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO Spokesperson, accused the SSPDF of a continued pattern of aggression, claiming that their position was attacked by the SSPDF on Wednesday morning in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
In rebuttal, Maj-Gen Lul Ruai, the SSPDF spokesperson, dismissed allegations that the army attacked SPLA-IO.
He stated that the incident was a result of the resistance from SPLA-IO forces during the checkpoint elimination exercises.