24 SPLA-IO officers arrested in Koch for refusing to join Simon Maguek – spokesman

JUBA, OCTOBER 28, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has said that twenty-four of its service members have been arrested in southern Unity State on orders of Koch County commissioner Gordon Koang Biel for refusing to join the SSPDF along with General Simon Maguek Gai.

General Maguek who was the group’s sector two commander in Unity State had earlier this month defected to join the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) under President Salva Kiir Mayardit after accusing First Vice President Riek Machar, the leader of the SPLM-IO, of unilaterally running the group.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Friday, SPLA-IO sector two spokesman Maj. Kerbino Yai Pazale said the officers were arrested following the return of General Maguek to southern Unity State to mobilize SPLA-IO troops to defect to the SSPDF.

Maj. Yai said Maguek was given a military base by the Koch County commissioner in order to assemble SPLA-IO forces who defected and that SPLA-IO troops who defected with him were forcing their former colleagues from the SPLA-IO to join them, resulting in the arrest of 24 officers who refused to defect.

“The authorities in Koch County have taken action against 24 SPLA-IO officers who refused to make declaration along with other six colleagues who recently declared themselves to SSPDF from SPLA-IO in Unity State,” he stated. “An investigation is underway to shed light on the motive that led the authorities to arrest the SPLA-IO officers.”

Maj. Yai said the soldiers were arrested in Koch and have been moved to Bang Boma where they are still being detained currently, adding that the sole responsibility lies with the Koch County Commissioner who he said ordered the arrest.

“They were arrested in Koch, and they have been relocated to Bang Boma and until now they are being detained there. I can’t say it is a relevant authority in Koch County. I can’t make allegation against the SSPDF. It is absolutely the commissioner who directed for their arrest,” he said.

“According to what I have been told by one of the SPLA-IO officers who came from Koch is that the Commissioner had a meeting with six SPLA-IO defectors and after the meeting, they arrested the officers, and they were taken to Bang. So, the commissioner ordered the SPLA-IO defectors to arrest the remaining SPLA-IO,” he added.

The SPLA-IO had a cantonment site at Mirmir Payam of Koch County until 2022 when the SSPDF took over the site. Maj. Yai said that the SPLA-IO had left the cantonment site and the officers who were arrested were on a departure order from the opposition command in Unity State.

“All the 24 officers were given a departure order by their division commander, especially division 4A and division 4B,” he added.

But speaking to Sudans Post separately today Saturday, SPLM-nominated commissioner of Koch County Gordon Koang Biel popularly known as Koang Nyaluargo denied any knowledge regarding the alleged arrest of opposition officers, saying he does not have anything to do with military affairs.

“Who said that?” Commissioner Koang asked our reporter. “I didn’t hear anything as such. I swear these people have not been arrested and I don’t have any information. No one is arrested in my County. The information I have is that Simon Maguek is the only one who defected from the SPLA-IO. I think those said to have been arrested are civilians and if they are soldiers, I don’t have any information.”

When contacted by Sudans Post, local residents were cautious to speak, but one of them who requested not to be named said one of the 24 officers was arrested in his house on October 23 in Mirmir by soldiers wearing SSPDF uniform before being taken to an unknown location.

The resident said he is not sure of the total number of those arrested, but said the number could be higher.