Clashes between South Sudan army and the armed opposition faction erupted on Monday afternoon after the SSPDF allegedly attacked the SPLA-IO base at Nyuelnyuel, also known as Barkuor, north of the state capital, Bentiu.
Multiple military sources affiliated with the SPLA-IO said the group withdrew from the base, not due to defeat, but as part of a previously agreed-upon relocation.
“This is evidently justification for our augment that field commanders of the forces of parties to the R-ARCSS in unity state are undermining the system of command enshrined in the R-ARCSS. This is clear violation of the Permanent ceasefire,” CEPO’s Executive Director, Edmund Yakani said on Tuesday.
He urged the political leadership to summon the field commanders for disciplinary and accountability measures, stressing that skirmishes between the rival factions threaten preparations for elections scheduled in December 2024.
“The usual tensions between SPLA-IO and SSPDF in unity state will really return the country back to war. The behaviors of the field commanders are really bad and they have a sharp appetite of returning the country back to war,” stressed Yakani.
He added, “These practices should immediately be stopped, sanctioned by the political and top national security and defense leaderships in Juba”.
Yakani urged the ceasefire monitoring body (CTASMVM) to investigate the clashes between the rival factions.
