The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have broken its silence over the recent clashes that led to killing of Major General in Upper Nile state.
Speaking in Juba, Lt-Gen James Koang Chuol, assistant chief of defence forces in charge of operation cited eventualities in Nasir as “politicized’ conflict.
“We were instructed by the command on mid-February to replace our forces who had been in Nasir for long time, some spent 8 or 10 years. And it was their rights to be replace,” he said.
Lt-Gen Kaang after jetting back from Malakal said he was instructed to mobilize forces for rotation of SSPDF force in Nasir.
“So, I left together with my colleague [Gen Olony] in order to see them off as they [new forces] go to Nasir,” he added.
Gen Kaang, who is also assistant chief of defence forces for Training narrated that before forces embark on the mission, it was already politicized that the army is going to disarm civilians.
“Before the force could leave there is a politics, the whole thing was politicized, that we are going to deploy these forces in Doma, Ulang, Ulang and Jokou. we tried our level best to correct it, through social media and other law enforcement agencies but we failed,” he explained.
“We are not politicians, we are soldiers and our primary mission was to relieve Nasir forces, this is what was given to us by our chief of defence forces as requested by command or general headquarters,” he continued.
Chuol cited that this was later incited by few politicians in Juba and South Sudanese in diaspora.
From his part, Lt-Gen Johnson Olony, assistant Chief of Défense forces for disarmament trashed the allegation that he had gone back to bush.
“There is rumour that Johnson Olony has gone back o bush this is just a social media claims and its not true. We are soldiers not a politicians and South Sudan belong to us all,” said.
“as you know I am the commander of disarmament, so, these are just fabrication and don’t listen to it,” he added.
Gen Olony stated they had explained that SSPDF forces are not going for disarmament or any confrontation with civilians or SPLM/A-IO forces in Nasir but to relieve SSPDF forces who overstayed.
“This politics started here in Juba. I don’t fear and I always says truth – this whole thing starts with Dr. Riek Machar, the SPLM/A-IO,” he claimed.
“Those who fought are not white army, where will white army get RPG and PKM from? You know I have been IO member and rejoined the government – so its IO that fought with SSPDF in Nasir, they are not civilians. Frankly speaking its Riek Machar who attack Salva in Nasir,” Olony continued.
In addition, SSPDF spokesperson, Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang, said that they were fighting with the white army and Riek Machar’s forces – the SPLA-IO in Nasir.
For instance, Ruai said Col Tor Gile Thon, who was killed during the Nasir confrontation and a commander of white army was an SPLA-IO officer
“In 2019, he was selected by SPLA-IO to be part of the instructors that we trained, when we were preparing for the training of the Nasser unified forces we created unified training centres,”
“All the instructors for unified training centres in great Upper Nile. The instructors were trained in Upper Nile capital Malakal, and Tor Gile Thon was Lieutenant colonel at the time,”
He continued “And prior to him attacking Nasser, he was elected as the operation commander for the white army. Now, if SPLA-IO was not in agreement, they would have taken action against him.”
