August 23rd 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) on Thursday denied claims by the opposition group led by the country’s former First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar Teny that government troops attacked their hide-out near Bentiu on Wednesday.
South Sudan Army and opposition troops clashed on Wednesday around Bentiu killing an army General along with two other military officers.
Speaking to the Nyamilepedia on Thursday, SPLA Official Spokesman Brig. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang admitted that the rebel group in fact killed an army General but denied claim that the government is responsible for instigating the fighting that took place yesterday.
“In fact, the rebels have killed three officers and one soldier, one Brigadier General, Lieutenant Colonel and a First Leautenant plus a soldier but they were the one who attacked us,” Lul said.
He pointed out that the rebels are based in two islands far from Kuergeng where classes occurred yesterday saying it is a prove that the rebels came from these islands to attack the government position.
“The rebels we based in two islands in Guit county. One is called Kuon and the other I don’t remember it’s name because I am not carring a paper. They came at 10PM and attacked us killing the four people” he added.
He said the army will file a report for the CSTAMM calling for investigation of who instigated the fighting pointing out that bodies of the soldiers killed in their trenches were still there for the peace monitors to see.
“We will write to the CSTAMM so that they can investigate because the rebels claims that we attacked them and we are saying the same thing, so we would like the involvement of the CSTAMM to expose who attacked who first,” he further said.
