40 SSPDF soldiers perish after fierce fighting with Gen. Buay’s rebels in Mayom, claims spokesman

JUBA — South Sudan rebels claimed on Tuesday that they have killed at least forty (40) government soldiers during fighting that was sparked by an attack on a South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) convoy traveling to Mayom from Juba.

Fighting broke out this morning when an army convoy of eight vehicles came under attack from elements belonging to South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) in a remote village in Mayom county of Unity state.

Authorities say the attack was carried out by armed men who could not be identified at the time of the attack.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, General Buay’s press secretary, Luka Gattiek, said their forces destroyed the whole convoy of eight vehicle carrying military supplies to Mayom and killed around 40 government soldiers.

“The SSPM/A has captured and destroyed a convoy of eight 8 military vehicles belonging to Mayom based regime pro-militias, this morning on 26/7/2022, at around 09:00AM, at Tuocloka village, Mayom county,” he said.

“The convoy was moved from Juba to Mayom through Bhar El Ghazal, Ajak Kuac two days ago carrying ammunition and new weapons to arm militias for possible operations against the SSPM/A forces in the area,” added.

He claimed that “The SSPA found forty (40) soldiers dead on the ground and hundreds of AKM rifles, quantity of different types of ammunition, shells and food items captured.”

The rebel spokesman further said seven soldiers were killed on their side with 20 others being wounded.

While the army spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai told Sudans Post that the army command in Bilpam was “not ready for comment,” a local administrative official in Mayom said on condition of anonymity that the overall death toll is 12 including civilians who were being transported in the military vehicles.

“We are told that by people coming from there that the overall number of people killed is only 12 and they include some civilians you know our area has no good transport so civilians always beg to be taken in military vehicles and they were killed along with the soldiers,” he said.

“Also this claim that they have destroyed 8 car is not correct. The convoy consist of three pickup track going to Mayom and they came from Juba.